'Letters and documents sent to the Indian Workers Association on the issue of immigration...

This file primarily contains correspondence from Home Office officials, Members of Parliament and political activists concerning immigration legislation introduced during the 1960s and 1970s, and Indian Workers Association campaigns against this legislation. It also includes some printed material, largely consisting of flyers and leaflets giving information about demonstrations and other events organised to protest against racism expressed through immigration legislation introduced later in the 1970s.

/1 printed notice issued by the Home Office to Commonwealth citizens admitted to Britain subject to conditions of 1962 Immigration Act

/2-/5 letters to Jagmohan Joshi from Joan Ralling, Assistant Secretary of the Race Relations Committee of the Religious Society of Friends concerning the support of this organisation for the Indian Workers Association, their distribution of copies of the Co-ordinating Committee Against Racial Discrimination's publication 'The Victims Speak', and the production of a poster on the contribution of workers from Commonwealth citizens to British society, to be displayed at Quaker Meetings, December 1965-January 1966

/6-/9 papers relating to restrictions imposed by the Labour government in 1968 on the entry of Kenyan Asians to Britain, including a letter to Jagmohan Joshi from David Steel MP, concerning the proposed legislation, dated 26 February 1968 and a circular letter sent by Surjit S. Mann, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association to members, enclosing a press statement on the restriction of immigration to Kenyan Asians and including details about a forthcoming meeting of the Central Executive Committee on 31 March 1968 in Leicester. There is also a statement issued by the Provisional Committee for the founding of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Britain on the emergency legislation to curb immigration, 1968

/10 letter from I. M. Burns, Home Office, acknowledging receipt of a petition about immigration matters, 26 March 1969
/11 letter from Bill Coppock of North Staffordshire Action Council, asking for a speaker to attend a meeting called by this group against the 1971 Immigration Bill, 5 April 1971

/12-/14 correspondence and associated material relating to illegal immigration and the position of male fiances, sent by Andrew Faulds, Member of Parliament for Smethwick, following points raised on the issue by Avtar Jouhl. These papers consist of a letter to Andrew Faulds from Alex Lyon at the Home Office, attaching a photocopy of a statement made by the Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins, to the House of Commons on illegal immigration, and stating the view of the Home Secretary on the question of male fiances. There is also a covering letter from Andrew Faulds' private secretary to Avtar Jouhl, enclosing the correspondence, May-June 1974

/15 letter from Alex Lyon, Home Office, to Jagmohan Joshi discussing improvements in the processing of entry certificate applications in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh with the introduction of simplified procedures for dependents to join their family in Britain, 8 August 1975
/16 postcard from Dennis Howell to Jagmohan Joshi, acknowledging receipt of a letter concerning Balbit Singh, postmarked 1 August 1978

/17 letter from Clare Short, Action Group on Immigration and Nationality [AGIN], to Jagmohan Joshi, enquiring whether the Indian Workers Association would reconsider a previous decision, and be prepared to support AGIN's campaign for non-racist immigration control and to take part in a rally called by the organisation. This letter is undated, but is likely to have been written during the 1970s, before the election of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1979
/18 letter from Franco Capino, Secretary of the Campaign to Repeal the Immigration Act, discussing the racial bias of the Immigration Act introduced by the Conservative government in 1973 and setting out its main points. The letter asks for other organisations to support the group's campaign to repeal this Act. The letter is undated, but is likely to have been written during the 1970s

/19 photocopy of a leaflet issued by a group calling itself Indian Workers Association, London denouncing organisations who work with government bodies, including IWA (GB) and IWA (Southall), and anyone who works with the Coordinating Committee against the Racist Immigration Bill or Joint Council for Welfare of Immigrants. The leaflet is undated, but is likely to have been issued during the 1970s

/20 incomplete press release issued by Awaz - Asian Women's Movement, giving details about a protest demonstration against immigration procedures at Heathrow airport, particularly the practice of 'virginity tests', 9 February 1979
/21 flyer issued by Campaign Against Racism and Fascism giving information about a meeting organised by the group to protest against the detention of people judged to have entered Britain illegally under the terms of the 1971 Immigration Act. The flyer states that the meeting is to be held at Carrs Lane Church Centre, 18 June 1979, and also refers to a National Day of Action, featuring a picket outside Winson Green Prison, 7 July 1979, where many of the detainees were being held. Speakers at the meeting included Maurice Ludmer, President of Birmingham Trades Council; Ranjit Sondhi, Asian Resource Centre; John Plummer, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants; and a speaker from the Indian Workers Association
/22 circular letter issued by the Indian Workers Association (Southall) giving information about a convention against new immigration rules to be held 6 January 1980
/23 circular letter issued by Campaign Against Racist Laws, giving information about a Mobilising Committee Meeting to co-ordinate opposition to immigration legislation introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government, 19 January 1980
/24 flyer issued by Campaign Against the Immigration Laws giving information about a picket outside the Home Office to protest against the refusal of officials to allow Anwar Ditta to bring her three children from Pakistan to Britain, 1 February 1980