TNAG-0321-FCO40-357-Effect-of-1971-UK-Immigration-Bill-on-entry-of-Chinese-from--1971 — Page 46

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