GPS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM FCO 05144OZ
TO IMMEDIATE NEW DELHI
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK340/1.
IRALIVED IN REGISTE
1455
P.A.
RIMR
10/+2
10 DEC 1979
Thund
becomed
X=12
TELEGRAM NUMBER 818 OF 5 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE ISLAMABAD, DACCA, BONBAY, KARACHI, NAIROBI, ROUTINE CANBERRA, WELLINGTON, OTTAWA, BRIDGETOWN, PORT OF SPAIN, KUALA LUMPUR.
HOUSE OF COMMONS IMMIGRATION DEBATE, 4 DECEMBER ·
1. THE PRESS IN THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT WILL NO DOUBT MAKE MUCH OF THE CRITICISM MADE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE GOVERNMENT'S WHITE PAPER ON IMIGRATION. THE PROPOSALS WERE APPROVED BY 294 VOTES TO 252. THERE WERE SEVERAL ABSTENTIONS ON THE
GOVERNMENT SIDE.
2. THE CRITICISMS WERE DIRECTED ALMOST ENTITELY AGAINST THE PROPOSED PROVISIONS FOR HUSBANDS AND MALE FIANCES WHICH WERE DESCRIBED BY SOME MEMBERS AS BOTH RACIALLY AND SEXUALLY DISCRIMINATORY. AND AGAINST THE RESTRICTIONS UPON THE ENTRY OF DEPENDANTS, PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY, WHICH WERE SAID TO BE EXCESSIVELY HARSH.
3. 3 CONCESSIONS WERE MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT:-
A. WOMEN QUALIFIED TO BRING IN HUSBANDS AND MALE FIANCES WILL INCLUDE NOT ONLY CITIZENS OF THE UK BORN IN THE UK BUT ALSO WOMEN, ONE OF WHOSE PARENTS WAS A CITIZEN OF THE UK BORN IN THE UK.
B. WOMEN RESIDENT IN THE UK WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO BRING IN HUSBANDS OR MALE FIANCES, WILL HAVE A RIGHT TO DO SO EXPRESSED IN THE RULES. C. MR RAISON UNDERTOOK TO CONSIDER AGAIN THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED PROVISIONS FOR DEPENDENT RELATIVES WHICH REQUIRE THEM TO BE WHOLLY OR MAINLY DEPENDENT UPON SPONSORS, BUT REQUIRE AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY MUST HAVE A STANDARD OF LIVING SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THAT OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THESE REQUIREMENTS WERE CRITICISED ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY EFFECTIVELY RULED OUT ALMOST ALL ELDERLY DEPENDENT
RELATIVES.
CONFIDENTIAL
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