§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the working of the new immigration rule as it affects the "marriage of convenience" and the arranged marriage; and what representations he has received concerning decisions for settlement and employment.
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§ Dr. SummerskillThe new immigration rules relating to husbands and male fiances which came into force in March 1977 have not been in operation long enough to enable a significant assessment of their effects to be made. They were not intended to have any effect on the genuine arranged marriage.
It is not possible to answer the second part of the Question precisely without disproportionate cost but there have been few, if any, recent general representations about decisions for settlement. The Indian Workers Association and the Ealing Community Relations Council have complained of delays in dealing with the cases of those who marry following their entry as male fiances and apply for the restrictions on their taking emloyment to be removed. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has also suggested that persons subject to a time limit on their stay have difficulty in obtaining employment despite the absence of any restriction on their doing so.