DRAFT
BRIEF FOR MEETING OF THE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON
IMMIGRATION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS 3 MAY 1971
EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS IN GREAT BRITAIN
The Committee will consider a memorandum by the Secretary
of State for Employment IC(71)2 making proposals to restrict
the entry of unskilled and semi-skilled workers from overseas.
2. It is recommended that Hr Kershaw should not object to
the proposals. A tightening up of the local labour rule is
probably overdue anyway. The other proposals would provide
the F.C.O. with useful ammunition to dispute the oft-repeated
arguments that workers from foreign countries are admitted
more freely than those from Commonwealth countries.
3. The Department of Trade and Industry will be represented
at the meeting and it is the intention of their Minister to
oppose the proposals on the grounds that it will be the tourist
industry which will be most adversely affected at a time when
the government has recognised the nood to encourage the industry
to expand. It is recommended that these objections be supported
to the extent of suggesting that the D.E.P. should try to
adjust the application of restrictions affecting the tourist
industry to the measure of success they achieve in introducing
local labour to the industry.
4. The large majority of foreign workers come from countries
in Western Europe. It is accepted that any existing restrictions
and those envisaged by the new proposals will cease to have
effect for nationals of Common Market countries if and when