HC Deb 29 October 1981 vol 10 cc406-7W

Mr. Michael McNair—Wilson asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the latest figures for immigration from Commonwealth countries and Pakistan to the United Kingdom on a nation-by-nation basis over the past six months.

Mr. Raison:

The following table gives a detailed breakdown of the total number of Commonwealth citizens and nationals of Pakistan accepted for settlement on arrival in the first six months of 1981, which was published in table 2 of Home Office Bulletin, Issue No. 19/81 "Control of Immigration Statistics—Second Quarter 1981" issued on 6 September 1981, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Acceptances for settlement on arrival of Commonwealth citizens and nationals of Pakistan accepted by citizenship-nationality, 1 January to 30 June 1981

Country or territory issuing passport or nationals of Number of

persons

Commonwealth citizens
Australia 1,000
Bangladesh 2,940
Barbados 10
Canada 190
Cyprus 30
Ghana 30
Guyana 30
Hong Kong 330
India 1,000
Jamaica 140
Kenya 120
Malaysia 30
Malta 30
Mauritius 40
New Zealand 870
Nigeria 20
Sierra Leone
Singapore 10
Sri Lanka 40
Tanzania 60
Trinidad and Tobago 20
Uganda
West Indies Associated States 10
Zambia 10
Zimbabwe 40
United Kingdom passport holders 1,140
All other Commonwealth territories 40
Nationals of Pakistan 3,490
Total 11,670
— nil or negligible.

The numbers have been rounded independently and so components do not add to the total.

Mr. Greville Janner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will institute a review of the immigration appeals system.

Mr. Raison:

A review is in progress. The Home Office issued a discussion document in April this year and the comments received on it are being considered.

Mr. Greville Janner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were admitted to the United Kingdom from the Indian Sub-continent, and how many were refused entry in the past 12 months.

Mr. Raison:

In the 12 months ending 30 June 1981, about 300,000 citizens of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were admitted to the United Kingdom and about 2,300 were refused leave to enter.

Mr. Greville Janner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many formal complaints of ill treatment by immigration officials were made by Indians seeking to enter the United Kingdom during the last 12 months.

Mr. Raison:

In the last 12 months up to 30 September, 10 Indian citizens made a formal complaint of their treatment by immigration officers.

Mr. Greville Janner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the allocation of special vouchers to India.

Mr. Raison:

The allocation of vouchers to particular countries is kept under review. There are no present plans to increase the allocation to India.

Mr. Greville Janner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is still the policy of his Department not to publish the allocation of special vouchers to particular countries.

Mr. Raison:

Yes.

Mr. Greville Janner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to reduce the waiting time for United Kingdom passport holders to enter the United Kingdom from India.

Mr. Raison:

Waiting times could be reduced only by increasing the allocation of vouchers to India. As I indicated in answer to the hon. and learned Gentleman's question today, we have no present plans to do this.

Mr. Greville Janner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will transfer those special vouchers allocated to British passport holders in East Africa which are not taken up by applicants in India.

Mr. Raison:

We have no present plans to do so.