HC Deb 26 June 1986 vol 100 cc273-5W
22. Mr. Fallon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current annual rate of immigration from the Indian sub-continent.

Mr. Waddington

The number of nationals of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan accepted for settlement in the 12 months ending 31 March 1986 was 17,600.

30. Mr. Bellingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the operation of the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981.

34. Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the operation of the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981.

Mr. Waddington

The operation of the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981 is kept under regular review.

The Immigration Act provides the necessary framework for the firm control over immigration which is essential. The Government are, however, committed to legislation making overstaying a continuous offence, and ending the sexually discriminatory features of section 1(5). The British Nationality Act provides a sound and equitable basis for establishing nationality according to a person's links with this country or its Dependent Territories.

The Government believe that to repeal either or both Acts would be irresponsible and very damaging to community relations.

37. Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of the recent changes in parliamentary arrangements on the numbers of stops placed by hon. Members.

Mr. Waddington

The new guidelines which have been in operation for less than two months appear to be working satisfactorily but it is too early to form a final judgment.

43. Mr. Greg Knight

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking the repeal of the Immigration Acts 1971 and 1981 and the British Nationality Act.

Mr. Waddington

From time to time some people call for the outright repeal of these Acts. No central record is kept of such representations. The Government believe that repeal of the Acts would be irresponsible and very damaging to community relations.

44. Mr. Evennett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons entered the United Kingdom for permanent settlement from the Indian sub-continent in each of the last five years.

Mr. Waddington

Information on the numbers of nationals of Indian sub-continent countries accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom, is published annually in the Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics: United Kingdom" (Table 18 of the Issue for 1984, Cmnd. 9544). Corresponding figures for 1985 will be published next month and will show a total of 17,510 Indian sub-continent nationals accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom in 1985.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in (a) the proportion of visitors from the Indian sub-continent refused leave to enter the United Kingdom and (b) the proportion of those refused leave to enter who have been detained and refused temporary admission over the past six months.

Mr. Waddington

Information is not available in the precise form requested as the counts of passengers refused leave to enter or detained do not separately identify those seeking entry to the United Kingdom as visitors. However, the latest information which is available covering a six-month period is given below and relates to citizens of countries of the Indian sub-continent (Bangladesh, India and Pakistan). Those removed in a given month may have sought admission and/or been detained in a previous month.

Citizens of countries of the Indian sub-continent
Number
1985 1986
October November December January February March
Admitted for a limited stay or for settlement 30,400 23,500 25.900 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Detained in overnight accommodation* 679 382 441 274 233 326
Removed after having been refused entry 566 572 550 716 657 642
n.a. = Not yet available.
* including those detained and not subsequently refused.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance has been given to the immigration service in the past six months in granting leave to enter and allowing temporary admission to the United Kingdom;

(2) what change has been made in the past six months in his policy on granting leave to enter the United Kingdom and allowing temporary admission to visitors from the Indian sub-continent.

Mr. Waddington

There has been no change in the criteria governing the grant of leave to enter or allowing temporary admission, and therefore no new guidance.

Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy not to give any concessions regarding residence in the United Kingdom to people resident in South Africa who do not already have a right of residence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

Those without the right of abode in the United Kingdom are subject to immigration control in accordance with the Immigration Act 1971. The Government have no plans to change that position in relation to people resident in South Africa.