HC Deb 27 November 1981 vol 13 cc475-8W
Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish information on racial attacks which is to be collected as a result of the Home Office study "Racial Attacks"; and, if so, in what form and with what frequency.

Mr. Whitelaw

This is a matter that I shall be pursuing with the police and others concerned.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make arrangements to reassure the indigenous ethnic majority community with regard to racial attacks.

Mr. Whitelaw

I hope that the measures that I have announced in the foreword to the report will reassure all members of the community, whatever their racial origins.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in his discussions with interested parties on the Home Office study entitled "Racial Attacks", he will satisfy himself that the definition of a racial incident adopted by the study is generally accepted by all those concerned.

Mr. Whitelaw

Yes.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which indigenous majority communities were consulted in the preparation of the Home Office study "Racial Attacks"; and what evidence was obtained.

Mr. Whitelaw

Very many people of the white majority were consulted in all the areas visited by officials, and the views they expressed have been taken into account in the report.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the evidence for the statements in paragraphs 62 and 74 of the Home Office study "Racial Attacks" relating to hon. Members and prominent public figures.

Mr. Whitelaw

No.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether violent street crimes were taken into account in the Home Office study "Racial Attacks"; and, if so, in which of the categories listed in pages 7 and 8 they are contained.

Mr. Whitelaw

Crimes of violence committed on the street were taken into account in the study and are contained in all of the four categories listed.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report tables 3 and 4 on pages 10 and 11 of the Home Office study "Racial Attacks" revised to include data from groups C and D mentioned on page 8 of the report.

Mr. Whitelaw

The information is not immediately available, but I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the names, positions and former positions of those who conducted the Home Office study which has published its report "Racial Attacks".

Mr. Whitelaw

No. A large number of Home Office officials were engaged on this study at its different stages.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the report of the Home Office study on "Racial Attacks", he will now take measures to halt permanent immigration from the New Commonwealth and Pakistan and initiate a repatriation scheme, including resettlement grants, for all those who wish to take advantage of it.

Table 1—Complaints Against the Police by Outcome
England and Wales Number of Complaints Received
Total Complaints Completed
Pending at year end Total Completed Substantiated Unsubstantiated Withdrawn
1973 16,155 3,269 12,886 1,144 7,579 4,163
1974 17,454 4,081 13,373 1,141 7,645 4,587
1975 19,205 4,947 14,258 1,254 8,057 4,947
1976 22,738 7,085 15,653 1,334 8,572 5,747
1977 27,450 10,515 16,935 1,107 7,911 7,917

Mr. Raison

No, since taking office the Government have tightened the control of primary immigration but have no intention of abandoning the commitments, accepted by previous Administrations, to the wives and children of heads of households lawfully settled in this country and to certain United Kingdom passport holders. Two schemes already exist under which Government funds are available to help people who have failed to settle here and wish to return to their country of origin but lack the means to do so. There are no plans to alter the present arrangements.

Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain the term ''racial disadvantage" as used by him in his foreword to the Home Office study "Racial Attacks".

Mr. Raison

Racial disadvantage is well described in the Introduction to the recent report on the subject by the Select Committee on Home Affairs (HC 424-I: Session 1980–81).

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