HC Deb 22 February 1978 vol 944 cc644-5W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the latest figures for the London Borough of Newham show that the number of people in the borough of overseas origin is half as much again as the previous figure and that there are now between 18 per cent. and 19 percent. or 42,000 to 46,000 persons compared with 28,000 in the 1971 census, the great majority of whom are Asian and West Indian; and, as this is causing housing, employment, health, schooling and educational and other problems, what action he has taken or is taking to assist the local authority to overcome these problems.

Mr. John

I am aware of the results of the 1971 census and also that there has been a small reduction in the total population of the London Borough of Newham since then, but I am not aware of the source of the more recent figures quoted by my hon. Friend, nor their definition. Financial assistance to local authorities from central Government already takes account of their particular needs. The only assistance for which my right hon. Friend is directly responsible is grant aid under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, and substantial sums have been paid to Newham under this provision.

Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern), Official Report, 3rd February, columns 339–40, if he will provide a further table showing (a) how many of the children under 18 years accepted for settlement in each of the years specified were aged 16 years or over, and (b) how many of the husbands, wives, children or other dependants enumerated under the various headings of his Written Answer were husbands, wives, children or other dependants of citizens of the New Commonwealth or Pakistan who were themselves accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom on or after 1st January 1973.

Dr. Summerskill

I regret that the information requested is not available. No breakdown by age is available of the children accepted for settlement. Statistics of acceptances for settlement are classified by the date of acceptance and by the citizenship or nationality of the dependant and not of his sponsor.