The history of multiculturalism and immigration in the. The cabinet papers commonwealth immigration control and. Uk immigration law affecting commonwealth citizens who. These acts resulted from widespread opposition to immigration in britain from a variety of political groups, but most notably the conservative monday club, whose members of parliament were very active and vocal in.
For instance, in the sparsely populated frontier area of san tin in hong kong, 8590 percent of the ablebodied males left for the. In response to growing antiimmigration sentiment, parliament imposed immigration controls on subjects originating from outside the british islands with the commonwealth immigrants act 1962. This was first restricted by parliament with the commonwealth immigrants act 1962, which imposed immigration controls on subjects originating from outside the british islands. The passage of the 1962 commonwealth immigrants act, a.
The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 distinguished between the citizens of the uk and the citizens of the independent commonwealth countries. The commonwealth immigration act 1962 in 1960, the home secretary, richard rab butler, pressed for legislation, and the cabinet appointed a committee. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom. A british subject is a member of a class of british nationality largely granted under limited circumstances to people connected with ireland or british india born before 1949. The passage of the 1962 commonwealth immigrants act, a case. These two events could not have taken place under more different levels of secrecy. The monthly total for january, 1968, was nearly 2, 3c0. Before the act was passed, citizens of british commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the uk.
This act may be cited as the immigration restriction shorttitle. Before the act was passed, citizens of commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the uk. Under the british nationality act of 1948 immigrants from british colonies had rights to. Memorandum by the secretary of state for the home department. Butler oversaw the production of the bill that became the commonwealth immigration act of 1962. The uk has the second largest overseas pakistani population after saudi arabia history. The provisions of this part of this act shall have effect for controlling the immigration into the united kingdom of commonwealth citizens to whom this section applies. But race riots in nottingham and london led the conservative government under harold macmillan to introduce the commonwealth immigrants act in 1962. The commonwealth immigration acts of 1962, 1968 and 1971 tightened.
For instance, in the sparsely populated frontier area of san tin in hong kong, 8590 percent of the ablebodied males left for the united kingdom between 1955 and 1962 to work in british factories, foundries, railways, buses, hotels, and restaurants. British pakistani community simple english wikipedia, the. Commonwealth immigration control and legislation the national. Case case different rules apply to british protected persons and certain british subjects. This thesis examines discussions within the british government held about immigration from the commonwealth in the period between 1948 and 1964 and clarifies the role the government actors played. July 1962, citizens of commonwealth countries, with certain exceptions. Immigration law affecting commonwealth citizens who. Access to society journal content varies across our titles. Efforts were taken to stem the flow of emigrants, but was never fully stopped. The term itself has historically had several different meanings, but is currently used to refer to a nationality class which was created to accommodate individuals who held a status previously. In response to a perceived heavy influx of immigrants, the conservative party government tightened the regulations, permitting only those with governmentissued employment vouchers, limited in. In response to a perceived heavy influx of immigrants. Commonwealth immigrants act 1962 the art and popular. This paved the way to the passage of the commonwealth immigration act in 1962 which finally ended unrestricted entry.
Immigrants act 1962, and schedule 1 to that act, and to make further provision as to commonwealth. The kenyan asians, british politics, and the commonwealth. The arrival of the ss empire windrush in 1948 marked the beginning of a controversial period of commonwealth immigration particularly from the west indies. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 and immigration act 1971 largely restricted any further primary immigration, although family members of alreadysettled migrants were still allowed. Aimed mostly at people from caribbean colonies, the act facilitated immigration controls by introducing a limited number of employment vouchers and the deportation of immigrant people with criminal convictions. The act was amended by the commonwealth immigrants act 1968 and another new act, immigration act 1971, came into force in 1971. The introduction of the commonwealth immigrants act of 1962 is an important event in british postwar history so that the political developments leading to the act have been well researched. Conservative governments and the restriction of commonwealth. Click view more or select more resources tab for additional information including. In 1960, the home secretary, richard rab butler, pressed for legislation, and the cabinet appointed a committee.
However, muslim immigrants from the part of british india now known as. Commonwealth immigrants act, 4, written answers, 1962 0419. In the 1960s however, the concentration and rapid buildup in the numbers of children arriving from commonwealth countries and entering the schools at different ages and at all times throughout the school year began to create serious educational difficulties. Macmillans diary 30 nov 1961, mss macmillan dep d 44. Commonwealth immigrants act 1968 wiley online library.
The decade between the passing of the 1948 british nationality act and the 1962 commonwealth immigrants act constitutes a critical period in the politics of citizenship in postwar britain. Boston, how the immigrants act was passed, new society no. Housing race and migration university of sheffield. Immigration law affecting commonwealth citizens who entered. An act to make temporary provision for controlling the immigration into the united kingdom of comrnon. And though laws were created to stem the flow of emigrants coming to the uk commonwealth act 12 in 1962 and later revisions, no real efforts, which politicians like powell called from, were ever taken to reverse the process. Under the british nationality act of 1948 immigrants from british colonies had rights to full citizenship. List of mentions of the commonwealth immigrants act 1962 in parliament in the period 1803 to 2005. Certain categories of commonwealth citizen have a legal right under the commonwealth immigrants act 1962 to be admitted to the united kingdom a dependants. The act was amended by the commonwealth immigrants act 1968, before being superseded by the immigration act 1971. Canadas immigration policy, 19451962 291 ing and able to sponsor the refugees. Rushed through parliament in three days, the commonwealth immigration act 1968 amended sections of the commonwealth immigration act 1962. The new legislation subjected all holders of uk passports to immigration controls unless they, their parents or a grandparent had been born, adopted or naturalised in the united kingdom.
List of mentions of the commonwealth immigrants act 1962 in parliament in the period 1803 to 2005 search help hansard 18032005 acts c. Pakistan came into existence in 1947, so documentation of the life of pakistani britons technically can only start from that year. However, previous works on this topic have emphasised the role played by parliament, political parties and politicians in the policy process, while they. Commonwealth immigrants act 1962 project gutenberg self. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom background. More restrictive legislation was enacted with the immigration act 1971 and under margaret thatcher with the british nationality act 1981. The immigration act 1971 relaxed controls on patrials, subjects whose parents or grandparents were born in the united kingdom, 26 and gave effective.
Commonwealth citizens needed express permission to enter or remain in the uk and to register with the police. The history of multiculturalism and immigration in the united. British pakistani community simple english wikipedia. As commonwealth migrants filled the least desirable jobs and social housing the commonwealth immigrants act 1962 begins to control entry into britain due to a housing shortage. Thus, while the more inclusive and racially inflected postwar definition of british citizenship developed through the 1948 british nationality act and the commonwealth immigrants act 1962 marked a decisive shift in british domestic politics, it fit within a longer lineage of racially demarcated imperial citizenship politics. In response to a perceived heavy influx of immigrants, the conservative party government tightened the regulations, permitting only those with governmentissued employment vouchers, limited in number. The act amended the commonwealth immigrants act 1962, further reducing rights of citizens of the commonwealth of nations countries as of 2010, comprising approximately 1. The role of civil servants in the formulation of policy. Against this, the uncontrolled entry of asian immigration from east africa was about, 600. The kenyan asians, british politics, and the commonwealth immigrants act, 1968 article pdf available in the historical journal 4203. The 1988 act reduced security of tenure and removed rent regulation. An act to make temporary provision for controlling the immigration into the united kingdom of commonwealth citizens. At first, all commonwealth citizens held the automatic right to settle in the united kingdom. In 1967 the number of commonwealth citizens entering under control of the commonwealth immigrants act 1962, and settling here was about 60, 000.
Commonwealth immigrants act 1968 commonwealth immigrants act 1968 hepple, b. These acts resulted from widespread opposition to immigration in britain from a variety of political groups, but most notably the conservative monday club, whose members of parliament were very active and vocal in their opposition. The term itself has historically had several different meanings, but is currently used to refer to a nationality class which was created to accommodate individuals who held a status previously called british subject. An act to amend sections 1 and 2 of the commonwealth. The result of this reexamination of immigration policy was the white paper immigration from the commonwealth, published in august 1965. Legislation was passed to restrict the number of commonwealth immigrants to britain. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom before the act was passed, citizens of british commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the uk. Commonwealth immigrants act is passed to restrict the number of commonwealth migrants travelling or relocating to britain. For instance, in the sparsely populated frontier area of san tin in hong kong, 8590 percent of the ablebodied males left for the united kingdom between 1955 and 1962 to work in british. Immigrants from commonwealth countries like the west indies and pakistan were welcomed into britain during the postwar labour shortage of the 1950s.
Under the group movement plan, the dis placed persons, instead of being sponsored by canadian residents, were selected by special government agents who took into consideration the manpower needs of the canadian economy. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom before the act was passed, citizens of commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the uk. Section 2 of the act permitted an immigration officer to refuse admission to the uk, or impose. Analysing ethnic education policy making in england and. List of mentions of the commonwealth immigration act 1962 in parliament in the period 1803 to 2005 search help hansard 18032005 acts c. In march 1965, wilson stated that the commonwealth immigrants act was not working as was intended, recommending that a fresh examination of the whole problem of control is necessary. The 1962 commonwealth immigrants act introduced a quota system for migrants from the new commonwealth in 1964 the 2004 housing act made hmo registration compulsory and set minimum standards for the private rented sector. British pakistanis also pakistani britons are people in the united kingdom of pakistani ancestry.
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