HC Deb 03 February 1983 vol 36 cc406-8
9. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment of the impact on the Argentine he made when he decided before the Argentine invasion that British nationality would not be extended to the Falkland Islanders; and if he will make a statement on the observation of the Franks committee on this matter.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. David Waddington)

My right hon. Friend notes what is said in the Franks report. During the passage of the British Nationality Act 1981, which among other things created a new British dependent territories citizenship, we made it clear that nothing in the Act affected the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Falkland Islands or the Government's obligations to the islands and their inhabitants. There were therefore no grounds for the Argentines to judge that the Act represented any diminution of our commitment to the islands.

Mr. Dalyell

In that case, do Home Office Ministers believe that Lord Franks and his colleagues are being a bit hard on them? Was it a senior official of the Home Office or of the Foreign Office who scribbled over one of the warning messages received from Ambassador Williams in Buenos Aires: Don't take too much notice of him. He is only an emotional Welshman"?

Mr. Waddington

We all know that the hon. Gentleman has read and re-read the Franks report. He knows perfectly well that paragraph 280 of that report lists several developments that may have cast doubts on British commitment to the islanders. The British Nationality Act 1981 is listed among a number of subjects, including arms sales and the airfields, and it comes last. There is no evidence that the British Nationality Act caused the junta to doubt Great Britain's commitment to the islanders. No such evidence was revealed in any of the relevant documents submitted to Franks.

Mr. Wilkinson

How could the potential change in the lettering on the cover of the passports of a minority of the islanders, which takes effect this year, in any way affect the invasion plans of generals in the Argentine during the spring of last year?

Mr. Waddington

My hon. Friend poses a good question. The British Nationality Act made the majority of the citizens of the Falkland Islands British citizens. Furthermore, during the progress of the British Nationality Bill the Government said time and again that the establishment of the separate new citizenship of the dependent territories in no way altered the Government's obligations and commitments to the dependent territories, and the Falkland Islands in particular.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The Franks report does not really accord with the Minister's answer. What liaison, if any, was there on that issue with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Prime Minister, and what was the result of that liaison?

Mr. Waddington

I shall not go into such details, but I assure the hon. Gentleman of two matters. First, there is nothing in what I have said that cuts across the conclusions of the Franks report. I have already said that in paragraph 280 Franks reported that a number of matters could have influenced the Argentine junta. We do not believe for one moment that they did. In fact, all the evidence points to the contrary.

Mr. Latham

Looking forward rather than backward, as the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) always does, will my hon. and learned Friend follow what must surely be his basic instincts and conclude that both prudence and honour require that this concession be made as quickly as possible?

Mr. Waddington

Yes, Sir. A private Member's Bill, sponsored by Baroness Vickers, has started its progress through the other place. During the progress of the British Nationality Bill through the House one plainly had to bear in mind that it was difficult to discriminate in favour of one dependent territory as against another. However, circumstances have changed. We shall look with the greatest sympathy at the Bill going through the other place.

Mr. Hattersley

Does the status of citizen of British dependent territories confer that crucial element of British protection—the availability of consular protection services in time of emergency?

Mr. Waddington

With respect, that is not the point. The right hon. Gentleman should read his hon. Friend's question. I was asked what may have influenced the junta. There is no evidence that any of the matters raised by the right hon. Gentleman or his hon. Friend had the slightest influence on the junta.

Mr. Hattersley

Does the new status of citizen of British dependent territories carry with it the crucial element of consular protection?

Mr. Waddington

I have already answered that question. During the passage of the legislation my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made it plain that the determination of the British Government to defend the rights of the islanders would in no way be diminished by the passage of the Bill.

Mr. Dalyell

That is a totally unsatisfactory reply. I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.