LEAF TOBACCO PRODUCTION (1973) million lb. (wet weight) '000 metric tons

NATURAL RUBBER PRODUCTION (1973) '000 metric tons

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COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRATION

INTO BRITAIN

NTIL 1962 Britain had freely admitted citizens of other Commonwealth countries for residence and a quarter of the world's population was thus entitled to enter and settle in Britain at will. In the early 1950s increasing numbers began to exercise this right with the result that by 1961 (in which year it was estimated 170,000 immigrants from other Commonwealth countries entered Britain) it became clear that the rate of flow of Commonwealth immigrants was exceeding Britain's capacity to absorb them, particularly since the majority tended to congregate in already overcrowded areas of the country. It was therefore decided reluctantly that immigration would have to be controlled.

COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRANTS ACTS 1962 AND 1968

Part I of the 1962 Act, which came into operation on 1st July 1962, for an initial period of 18 months, subjected to control all Commonwealth citizens except, broadly speaking, those born in the United Kingdom and those holding passports issued by a United Kingdom authority. Part I of the Act was extended annually for periods of one year.

During 1967 there was a rapid increase in the number of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies of Asian origin coming to this country from East Africa. In order to prevent the immigration policy from being undermined by this influx of people not subject to control under the 1962 Act, the Government decided it was necessary to introduce immediate legislation. The 1968 Act, which was passed on 1st March 1968, extended immigration control to certain citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who did not have a specific connection with the United Kingdom. Its effect was to extend immigration control to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who held United Kingdom passports issued abroad, unless they or one of their parents or grandparents-were born or naturalised in the United Kingdom or acquired citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by adoption or registration in the United Kingdom or by registration in what was at the time an independent Commonwealth country. Under the 1968 Act special vouchers were issued to heads of households whose exemption from immigration control had been ended by the Act and who wished to settle in the United Kingdom. The dependants of a voucher holder were entitled to accompany him to, or join him in, the United Kingdom under the normal rules of immigration control. These arrangements continue under the Immigration Act 1971.

IMMIGRATION ACT 1971

On 28th October 1971 the Immigration Act 1971 was passed and it came fully into force on 1st January 1973. This act replaced all previous immigration legislation with one permanent statute, and introduced a single system of immigration control which applies both to Commonwealth citizens and to foreign nationals. It provides for control of entry into the United Kingdom from overseas (except entry from within the common travel area formed by the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland

which continues to be free from immigration control), and for the control after entry of people who do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

THE RIGHT OF ABODE

Under the 1971 Act certain people have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. They are described as patrial and are entirely free from immigration control. Everyone else is subject to control. Those who are patrial are, in broad terms:

(a) all citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who have that citizenship by birth, registration or naturalisation in the United Kingdom or who have a parent or grandparent who was born here or acquired citizenship by adoption, registration or naturalisation here;

(b) citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who have come from overseas, have been accepted for permanent residence, and have resided here for 5 years; and

(c) Commonwealth citizens who have a parent born in the United Kingdom. In addition

(d) a woman who is a Commonwealth citizen (including a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies) has the right of abode if she is or has been the wife of a man in any one of these categories.

Anyone claiming to be patrial (other than under (a) above, or under (d) as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies married to a man who is a patrial under (a) must establish this at the port of entry by means of a certificate of patriality obtained from a British post overseas, or from the Home Office.

EMPLOYMENT

People who are not patrial and who are seeking to enter the United Kingdom for employment are in general required to have work permits. There are some exceptions--for example doctors and dentists coming to follow their professions; ministers of religion; representatives of overseas newspapers; Commonwealth citizens who have a grandparent born in the United Kingdom; self-employed people such as writers and artists-but anyone seeking to come for employment should first make enquiries of a British High Commission or Consulate overseas. Work permits are issued by the Department of Employment for a specific job with a particular employer who must himself apply to the Department. A work permit holder may be given leave to enter the United Kingdom for a period of up to 12 months in the first instance, subject to a condition requiring him to obtain the approval of the Department of Employment if he wishes to change his job. At the end of the first year his stay may be extended if he is still in approved employment. After 4 years he can be accepted for permanent settlement, the time limit on his stay can be removed and he will then be free to take any employment.

Young Commonwealth citizens who want to spend a working holiday in the United Kingdom before settling down in their own countries may come without work permits; but the maximum time allowed for working holidays is 5 years.