HC Deb 05 February 1982 vol 17 c217W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the recent racial disorders, he remains satisfied that continued immigration at present levels from the new Commonwealth and Pakistan has no adverse effect on social order in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Raison

We have no reason to think that immigration for settlement, which is now tightly and effectively controlled, and much of which consists of the admission of the dependants of those already here, has such an effect.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield of 29 January,Official Report, c. 452, he will estimate the scale of potential immigration for settlement; and if he will list this potential immigration under separate ethnic headings.

Mr. Raison

It is not possible at present to make any soundly based estimate of this kind. Any estimate which might be made would be subject to such a wide margin of error as to be both unreliable and misleading.