§ 16. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received against his decision to regularise the position of certain illegal immigrants; and how many such have so far applied to his Department or to an immigration office.
§ Dr. SummerskillUp to 13th December the Department had received 156 letters, mostly critical, about the decision affecting Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who, before 1st January 1973, gained entry illegally by receiving the immigration authorities; and five applicants had applied to have their position regularised. Their applications are being considered.
§ 28. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra dependants he estimates will now be able to enter the United Kingdom, following the amnesty for illegal immigrants which he announced on 29th November.
§ 39. Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of dependants eligible to enter tae United Kingdom following his decision to grant an amnesty to Commonwealth and Pakistani citizens who entered the United Kingdom illegally before 1st January 1973.
§ Dr. SummerskillI would refer the hon. Members to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton)344W on 9th December.—[Vol. 940, c. 896–897.]
§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants had been deported prior to the amnesty announced on 29th November, who would have benefited under its terms.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNo one who would have been eligible to benefit under the terms of my announcement of 29th November, affecting certain Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who entered this country illegally before 1st January 1973, had been removed as an illegal entrant under the powers contained in Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. A small number of people were removed under deportation orders made on the recommendation of a court after convinction on charges relating to the deception of an immigration officer; but in these cases the deportation orders were made under the provisions of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 and there was no question of the retrospective use of powers conferred by the 1971 Act.
§ Mr. MacKayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants he expects to take advantage of his latest amnesty.
§ Dr. SummerskillI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a Question by the hon. Member for Wolver-hampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen) earlier today.