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THESE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE LAYING OF A STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN
THE IMMIGRATION RULES (WHICH WILL BECOME THE NEW RULES THEMSELVES)
IN EARLY DECEMBER TO TAKE EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY. IF THE
OPPOSITION TABLE A RESOLUTION TO DISAPPROVE THE STATEMENT OF
CHANGES, THERE WILL BE FURTHER DEBATES, BUT THESE MAY NOT TAKE
PLACE UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. THE NEW RULES WILL HAVE TAKEN EFFECT
NONETHELESS.
LINE TO TAKE
4. THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON IMMIGRATION.
IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO RESTRICT PRIMARY IMMIGRATION
(THAT IS THE ADMISSION FOR SETTLEMENT OF HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD IN
THEIR OWN RIGHT) AS TIGHTLY AS IS CONSISTENT WITH HUMANITY AND
THE COUNTRY'S NEED FOR SCARCE SKILLS. THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION
OF WEAKENING SUCH A POLICY AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY AND
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.
5. WHEN THE RULES WERE CHANGED IN 1980 TO LIMIT MALE IMMIGRATION,
THERE WAS NO SATISFACTORY DEFINITION IN NATIONALITY LAW OF WHO HAD
A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM. NOW THAT THERE WILL,
FOR THE FIRST TIME, BE SUCH A DEFINITION IN NATIONALITY LAW,
BASED UPON THE CONCEPT OF CONNEXION SPECIFICALLY WITH THE
UNITED KINGDOM, THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW IS THAT WOMEN WHO HAVE THIS
CLOSE CONNEXION OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE WITH A HUSBAND FROM
OVERSEAS. (YOU SHOULD NOT SPECULATE ON THE LIKELY INCREASE IN
ADMISSIONS THAT MAY ARISE FROM THIS CHANGE).
6.
(IF ASKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TREATMENT OF THE SEXES).
WOMEN SETTLED HERE WHO DO NOT BECOME BRITISH CITIZENS DO NOT
HAVE THE SAME DEGREE OF CONNEXION OR COMMITMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT
CANNOT SEE ITS WAY TO BREACHING THE PRINCIPLE OF STRICT RESTRAINT
ON PRIMARY IMMIGRATION ON THEIR BEHALF. IT IS TRUE THAT THIS
PLACES THE TWO SEXES ON A DIFFERENT FOOTING AS ALL MEN SETTLED HERE, REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY OR CITIZENSHIP, MAY BE JOINED BY A WIFE OR FIANCEE: BUT THIS DOES NOT REPRESENT PRIMARY
IMMIGRATION. IT IS STILL VALID TO REGARD MEN PREDOMINANTLY AS
BREAD-WINNERS AND WOMEN PREDOMINANTLY AS DEPENDANTS.
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