GRS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKEY 31023CZ
FM F C O 301330Z OCT 79
HKK 340
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DESK OFFICER INDEX
NGYAY
PA
on Taken
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TO IMMEDIATE NEW DELHI
TELEGRAM NUMBER 687 OF 30 OCTOBER 1979
AND TO DACCA, ISLAMABAD, KARACHI, BOMBAY, CALCUTTA AND MADRAS INFO CERTAIN OTHER POSTS
INFO SAVING CERTAIN OTHER POSTS.
1. THE BBC AND BRITISH PRESS OF 30 OCTOBER CARRY REPORTS THAT IN A FRIVATE MEETING OF CONSERVATIVE MP'S YESTERDAY THE HOME SECRETARY SAID THAT GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED IN NEW IMMIGRATION RULES TO PREVENT HUSBANDS AND FIANCES SETTLING IN BRITAIN UNLESS THE WOMAN WAS BORN IN THE UK: AND THAT THIS PROVISION WOULD BE INCLUDED IN NEW RULES TO BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY AS A WHITE PAPER.
2.
GUIDANCE ON THE LINE TO TAKE WILL BE SENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MEANWHILE YOU SHOULD MAKE NO COMMENT. STRICTLY FOR YOUR OWN
INFORMATION THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS DESCRIBE THE CONSIDERATION THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GIVING TO THIS ISSUE.
3. THE AMENDMENT MADE TO THE RULES IN 1974, WHICH ENTITLED WOMEN SETTLED IN THE UK TO BRING IN HUSBANDS AND FIANCES HAS BEEN USED TO OPEN UP A CHANNEL OF PRIMARY IMMIGRATION. THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO FRUSTRATE, SO FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE ADMISSION OF HUSBANDS AND FIANCES FOR WHOM SETTLEMENT IN THE UK IS THE PRIMARY MOTIVE IN THE MARRIAGE. THE NEW RULES WILL NOT IN ANY SENSE BE AN ATTACK ON THE ''ARRANGED MARRIAGE'' AS SUCH, BUT WOULD SEEK TO CURB THIS ABUSE. THEY WOULD PROVIDE THAT, AS NOW, A HUSBAND OR MALE FIANCE WILL NOT BE ADMITTED FOR SETTLEMENT UNLESS HE HOLDS AN ENTRY CLEARANCE. AN ENTRY CLEARANCE WILL BE REFUSED IF THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE MARRIAGE IS TO OBTAIN ADMISSION TO THE UK, OR THAT ONE OF THE PARTIES DOES NOT INTEND THAT THE COUPLE SHOULD LIVE TOGETHER PERMANENTLY AS MAN AND WIFE, OR IF THE PARTIES HAVE NOT MET. WHERE NONE OF THESE APPLIES AN ENTRY CLEARANCE MAY BE ISSUED PROVIDED THAT THE WIFE IS A CITIZEN
OF THE UK AND COLONIES AND WAS BORN IN THE UK.
CONFIDENTIAL
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