HC Deb 02 March 1978 vol 945 cc307-8W
31. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report details of Immigration Acts, and the Governments responsible in each instance, over a period of the last 20 years, for changes in the immigration laws which provided Commonwealth citizens with British passports and entry into the United Kingdom as of right.

Dr. Summerskill

No immigration laws have provided Commonwealth citizens with British passports the issue of which is by Royal Prerogative. The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 controlled the entry into the United Kingdom of the holders of United Kingdom passports which were not issued by the Government of the United Kingdom. The Common- wealth Immigrants Act 1968 extended this control of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies to those who derived that citizenship from their connection with former British dependencies and who might therefore hold passports issued by the Government of the United Kingdom. The Immigration Act 1971 maintained these controls in a different form and introduced the concept of a right of abode or patriality by virtue of specified connections with the United Kingdom.

32. Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the future trends in immigration.

Dr. Summerskill

Forecasts of future immigration are not published because experience shows they are not sufficiently reliable.