HC Deb 29 April 1948 vol 450 c609
68. Mr. Vane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an assurance that no preference over other applicants for British citizenship will be given to illegal Jewish immigrants or other internees now in camps in Cyprus.

Mr. Ede

Yes, Sir. In the unlikely event of an application from such a person for naturalisation as a British subject, I should not regard residence in an internment camp in Cyprus as giving him any claim to-early consideration.

Mr. Hector Hughes

May I ask my right hon. Friend what are the conditions now governing the granting of British citizenship to immigrants in Cyprus?

Mr. Ede

They are governed by the ordinary law, and I hesitate to instruct my hon. and learned Friend on that.

Mr. S. Silverman

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the great anxiety of these people is to get out of Cyprus?

Mr. Ede

I am anxious that they should not get out of Cyprus and into this country and count the time they have been in Cyprus as qualifying them for the granting of British nationality.