§ Mr. Lambornasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the control of immigration statistics for 1978.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIn 1978, the total number of Commonwealth citizens and 7W foreign nationals accepted for settlement, at 72,350, was 5 per cent. higher than in 1977—when 69,300 were accepted—and 10 per cent. lower than in 1976—when 80,750 were accepted. The increase between 1977 and 1978 was in acceptances on removal of time limit, which arose mainly because of the postponement of acceptances of men on marriage, brought about by a change in the immigration rules in March 1977.
The total number of citizens of New Commonwealth countries and Pakistan accepted for settlement in 1978, at 42,950, was 1,200 lower than in 1977 and the lowest annual number since 1974. The main statistics on the control of immigration for the fourth quarter and year 1978 are published today in the second of a new series of Home Office statistical bulletins, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Detailed figures by citizenship and nationality will be published shortly in the annual Command Paper "Control of Immigration Statistics".