§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an investigation into the total number of illegal immigrants from the Commonwealth and Pakistan who have been admitted into the United Kingdom since the last amnesty.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesDuring the period from my predecessor's announcement on 11th April 1974 to 30th September 1977, the number of Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan given indefinite leave to remain as having entered illegally before 1st January 1973 was 1,658. During the same period, 1,053 Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who entered illegally on or after 1st January 1973 were detected, of whom 86 were given leave to remain, exceptionally, principally on compassionate grounds, either for a limited or for an indefinite period.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had with the European Council of Ministers before granting any amnesty to those immigrants who entered the United Kingdom illegally before January 1973.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNone.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether every immigrant who entered the United Kingdom illegally before January 1973 and who will now be able to stay in the United Kingdom will be asked to state his mode of entry into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesYes. The Immigration Service, as part of the process of verifying applications made under the announcement of 11th April 1974, has closely questioned applicants about the circumstances of their entry. The same practice will be followed in respect of applications made under the announcement of 29th November 1977.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements will be made to grant pass 620W ports to those immigrants and their dependants who entered the United Kingdom illegally before January 1973 and who will now be able to stay in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe provision of passports to people given leave to remain in the United Kingdom under the terms of my announcement of 29th November will remain the responsibility of the Governments of the countries of which they are citizens.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an inquiry to ascertain what was the country of origin of those immigrants who entered the United Kingdom illegally before January 1973.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesOf those who up to 31st October 1977 were found eligible to benefit under the terms of the announcement of 11th April 1974 affecting Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who entered clandestinely before 1st January 1973, 698 were citizens of India, 930 were citizens of Pakistan and 35 were citizens of other countries. Information about the origin of people found eligible to benefit under the terms of my announcement of 29th November will be available in due course.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had with Mr. David Lane and the Commission for Racial Equality before declaring an amnesty for those immigrants who entered the United Kingdom illegally before 1973.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI informed Mr. Lane of the course of action I proposed in the light of the court judgments.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had with local authorities before declaring an amnesty on all pre-January 1973 illegal immigrants.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNone.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of illegal immigrants who, having entered the United Kingdom before 1973, will now be allowed to stay.
621W
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIt is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the number who may come forward and who may be found eligible. Up to 31st October 1977, 1,663 Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan had been given indefinite leave to remain under the terms of my predecessor's announcement.