§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to re-issue his Department's circulars No. 244/1971 and No. 64/1973 concerning Her Majesty's Government's repatriation scheme; if he will update these circulars to include details of the increase in assistance available since they were last issued in 1973 with regard to the level of baggage allowance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWe are making arrangements for the issue of a fresh circular containing up-dated information.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the level of baggage allowance at the time of inception of Her Majesty's Government's repatriation scheme under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971; what is the present value in real terms of the allowance at that date; and what is the actual current level of baggage allowance.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe amount payable for the transport of baggage under the repatriation scheme operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 is within the discretion of International Social Service of Great Britain which operates the scheme on the Government's behalf. I understand that at the inception of the scheme in 1971 there was no specific maximum allowance: I.S.S. paid the amount that it judged to be reasonable in the circumstances of each case. It is, therefore, not possible to answer the second part of my hon. Friend's question. The present maximum allowances are as follows:
£ per person Zone A: (Canada, USA, Caribbean, Central and South America) Persons aged 16 and over 225 Persons aged under 16 100 Zone B: (Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South-East Asia, Australia, other Eastern Hemisphere countries) Persons aged 16 and over 250 Persons aged under 16 125