Oral Answers to Questions — Jamaica – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 1 Rhagfyr 1964.
Mr John Vaughan-Morgan
, Reigate
12:00,
1 Rhagfyr 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations he has made to the Government of Jamaica in regard to the Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Act.
Mr Cledwyn Hughes
, Anglesey
The Government drew attention to several aspects of the Bill which adversely affected our citizens, and I am glad to say that the Jamaican authorities made a number of amendments to the Bill before it became law.
Mr John Vaughan-Morgan
, Reigate
Will the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear to the Government of Jamaica that we entirely accept the right of any country to limit immigration if it so wishes? Will he also bear in mind that some firms employing British subjects in Jamaica feel that they may have difficulties now in recruiting the necessary technical staff?
Mr Cledwyn Hughes
, Anglesey
I shall certainly bear in mind what the hon. Member has said, but I draw his attention to one Amendment to this Jamaican Act, namely, that Commonwealth citizens are exempt from the provisions of the Act if they have been employed in Jamaica for at least nine months in a year since 1954. That should be of some assistance.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
