HC Deb 06 March 1978 vol 945 cc491-2W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the official announcement as made by immigration officials in Bangladesh that a new system of authenticating papers will speed up immigration from Bangladesh; and whether he can give a closer estimate to the actual number of entries than the 50,000 to 300,000 announced from Bangladesh.

Mr. Luard

There has been no such announcement. However, the Government of Bangladesh have stated their intention to expand their own advisory services to dependants applying to join men already settled in the United Kingdom, to help them prepare their applications. Verification of the applications will remain entirely in the hands of our high commission in Dacca. The number of dependants coming to the United Kingdom is unlikely to change.

For the reasons given in the report "A Register of Dependants"—Cmnd. 6698—it is not possible to arrive at a reliable estimate of the number of dependants who are entitled to come to the United Kingdom from Bangladesh.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has been having with the Bangladesh Government concerning the arrangements for admission to the United Kingdom of dependents of immigrants resident in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Luard

My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the Bangladesh Government on this subject, but the latter have informed our high commission in Dacca that they intend to expand their own advisory services for dependants applying to join men already settled in the United Kingdom. The object is to help them prepare and submit their applications for entry clearance to our high commission in Dacca. Verification of the applications will remain entirely in the hands of our high commission in Dacca. A similar operation by the Immigrants Advisory Service of Pakistan has operated successfully for some years.