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ay 15 [Bill
253
Immigration
HKK 340/1
RECEIVED IN AESOPPY NO. 1
INDEX
4 DECEMBER 1979
$7
Immigration stems from the primary immigration IMMIGRATIONDE K OFFICER which took place before the coming into force of the 1971 Act. We have the right that immigration these categories will cease, except in circum- stances of the most urgent need. It is in this belief that the Government have framed their proposals.
Mr. Speaker: I have selected the ao Expect ease, except in circum-
amendment in the name of the Lead
Leade
to of the Opposition.
Before we start the debate, I must re- mind the House that it will be quite im- possible to call everyone who wishes to speak. However, it will be possible to call many more if right hon. and hon. Members co-operate.
4.13 pm
The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. William Whitelaw): I beg to move,
That this House approves the White Paper on Proposals for Revision of the Immigration Rules (Cmnd. 7750).
On 14 November I published a White Paper setting out the Government's pro- posals for the revision of the Immigration Rules. I DOW invite the House to approve these proposals. This does not mean that my mind is closed to sugges- tions for modification of the draft rules contained in the White Paper, but I invite the House to give its approval to the Governmen's general approach.
There are certain categories of people who have a continuing claim to come to this country. Traditionally we have always been extremely generous in taking people from all parts of the world who find themselves in difficulty. The latest example of this is the 10,000 Vietnamese refugees whom we are committed to accept. An earlier example is that of the United Kingdom passport holders in East Africa. Those who were under pressure to leave Africa have been admitted at a controlled rate under the special voucher scheme. We have always made it clear -and this is emphasised in the White Paper-that the special voucher scheme will continue. Then there are the wives and children of men settled here in recent years. About half the total of accep- tances for settlement have been the wives and children of those already settled here. Indeed, the right of a Commonwealth citizen settled here on the coming into force of the Imigration Act 1971 to be joined by his wife and young children is protected under section 1(5) of the Act.
The claim of the passport holders to come under the special voucher scheme is a consequence of our imperial past. The claim of the wives and children largely
16 H 23
ΟΙ
I turn to the proposals for the revision of the Immigration Rules contained in the White Paper. Our proposals on husbands and fiances have aroused the greatest interest. Since the rules were changed in 1974, marriages have been contracted with the primary aim of enabling men to come here to work and settle. There can be no doubt about that.
The 1973 figure for husbands from the New Commonwealth and Pakistan show that we accepted for settlement, both on arrival and on removal of the time limit, no more than 200 men. In 1974 the equivalent figure was about 2,200. In 1975 that figure had more than doubled to about 5,000. In 1976 the figure was more than about 6,300. Thereafter the flow was affected for a time by changes in the Im- migration Rules and the giving of less priority to applications from husbands and fiancés. However, in the 12 months to mid-1979, the equivalent figure was 5,600 and we know from the number of applications in the pipeline that the pres sure to come by this route is as keen as
ever.
What we are discussing is the question of men being able to use a provision in our immigration control which enables them to settle on marriage when they could qualify to come in no other way. We must stop this loophole. The Govern- ment have a clear mandate to do so.
Mr. Cyril Smith (Rochdale) rose-
Mr. Whitelaw : I shall give way, but I must emphasise that Mr. Speaker has asked that as many people as possible should speak in this debate. Every time I give way I stop some other hon. Mem- ber from speaking. I hope the House will appreciate that.
Mr. Smith: Does the Home Secretary agree that under the existing law, if it can be proved that an immigrant is coming to this country for a marriage of conveni- ence, he can be returned? There are in- stances of this in the past four years. Therefore, what is all the fuss about?