§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the powers that he possesses with regard to immigration procedures which he can exercise without parliamentary scrutiny or approval (a) indefinitely and (b) over specified periods, in the latter case setting out the periods over which he can exercise such powers.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am required to lay before Parliament a statement of the rules laid down by me as to the practice to be followed in the administration of the Immigration Act 1971. That statement and the exercise of other powers conferred by the Act relating to categories of person are subject to a parliamentary procedure. The Home Secretary has a discretion, which is recognised in section 19(2) of the Act, to grant an individual application outside the rules. The special voucher scheme for certain United Kingdom passport holders is extra-statutory and not subject to a parliamentary procedure, but the total quota of vouchers is announced in Parliament.