§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the position of Polish citizens seeking to remain in the United Kingdom, and Polish ex-detainees seeking to enter the United Kingdom for settlement.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe Government decided in December 1981 that Polish citizens who were in the United Kingdom when martial law was imposed should be allowed, exceptionally, to remain in this country for a limited period which has since been renewed; and none has been required to return, whatever his or her circumstances or background. Any Polish citizen who is currently enjoying an exceptional extension of stay in this country and who still does not wish to return to Poland will on application be granted a further extension of stay for a period of 12 months, with no restriction on employment. Applications by Polish citizens in the United Kingdom for refugee status or asylum are being considered sympathetically.
It would not be right to extend the same exceptional treatment to new Polish visitors regardless of their individual circumstances. Under the immigration rules, a visa for a visit is only granted if the entry clearance officer is satisfied that the applicant intends to return at the end of his or her visit. Polish citizens coming to the United Kingdom on private visits on or after today will therefore be expected to return to Poland in the normal way. Applications from those who wish to remain here because they are afraid to return will however be sympathetically considered on an individual basis.
The Government have also decided that they should play a part together with our partners and allies, in the resettlement outside Poland of those Poles who were, until recently, detained under martial law provisions and who have decided of their own free will to seek resettlement outside Poland. We are prepared to consider applications from ex-detainees for whom the United Kingdom is, by ties of family, education or language, the most appropriate country of resettlement and who are personally acceptable. In considering applications, one of the factors to be taken into account will be the availability of accommodation in this country. A number of applications are already under consideration.