§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the monthly figures over the last two years for immigration to and from Israel so far as they relate to Israeli citizens leaving and entering the United Kingdom, United Kingdom citizens being granted Israeli nationality and Israeli citizens being granted United Kingdom nationality.
§ Mr. RaisonThe information available on Israeli nationals admitted to the United Kingdom is given in the following table. Statistics are not compiled by my Department on those embarking from the United Kingdom. We have no information about the number of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who may have acquired Israeli nationality. "Tables of persons acquiring citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, 1978" (Cmnd. 7637) shows that 195 Israeli nationals acquired our citizenship during that year. Similar tables for 1979 will be published in the summer. These figures are, however, compiled only on an annual basis.
Israeli nationals subject to immigration control admitted to the united kingdom 1978–1979 Number of journeys* 1978 1979 January 4,954 4,096 February 3,787 3,567 March 4,660 4,627 April 5,963 5,839 May 6,853 6,039 June 8,782 7,731 July 20,555 17,323 August 25,161 22,926 September 12,639 11,012 October 7,401 7,222 November 5,061 4,849 December 4,771 5,502 110,587 100,733 * A person who makes more than one journey is counted on each occasion.
§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each of the last 10 years, what are (a) the numbers of people accepted for settle- 262W ment and (b) the numbers of people granted citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies from (a) India (b) Pakistan, (c) West Africa (d) Bangladesh and (e) West Indies; what is the reason for any discrepancy between the two figures; what is the long-term status of those accepted for settlement who have not been granted citizenship; and what is the status of their dependants.
§ Mr. RaisonStatistics, by citizenship—nationality, of those accepted for settlement in the years 1973 to 1979 can be found in table 18 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, 1979" (Cmnd. 7875); statistics for 1970, 1971 and 1972 are to be found in the corresponding Command Papers for these years. Statistics, by citizenship—nationality, of those granted citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies are published annually in "Tables of persons acquiring citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies", the latest issue of which, for 1978, was Cmnd. 7637.
These two sets of figures differ because they measure different phenomena. Those accepted for settlement need not apply for citizenship and those who do may need to build up a residence qualification before doing so. Persons accepted for settlement may remain indefinitely, subject to any liability they may have for deportation, and no conditions are attached to their stay. Their dependants may be accepted for settlement if they meet the relevant requirements of the immigration rules.
§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that the confirmation of status in the United Kingdom is preliminary to many court proceedings, if he will ascertain in what way information gathered in this way can be used now or potentially to calculate an estimate of the numbers of illegal immigrants in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonThere is no reason to believe that the immigration status of people coming to notice in connection with court proceedings would provide 263W a reliable basis for estimating the numbers of people who are in the United Kingdom unlawfully.