§ Read 3a.
§
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS moved the following Amendment:
Page 5, line 33, leave out paragraph 7.
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, the paragraph to be deleted relates to the Ships and Aircraft (Transfer Restriction) Act 1939. I am informed that this Act, which expired in 1969 and was thereafter continued by Order in Council, finally lapsed at the end of 1974. In view of this, there is no need to make special provision in the Schedule to this Bill and the Amendment provides for the deletion of the paragraph relating to it.
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass.
§ Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Lord Goronwy-Roberts.)
§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, at this stage it would he helpful to those of us on this side of the House who have had a few misgivings about the Bill, if the noble Lord could put the situation into perspective by letting the House know how many people, as a result of the effects of this 2038 Bill when it becames law, will be holders of United Kingdom and Colonies passports. If the noble Lord is able to tell us what order of figure we may expect, it will do a good deal to resolve any remaining doubt.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Elton. This figure is not known for sure, but it is most unlikely to cause us any serious difficulty. The overwhelming proportion of the population—which numbers only 58,000, anyway—will become Seychelles citizens. There may be a few score who will retain our citizenship because their connection with the Seychelles is too remote to give them Seychelles citizenship, and many of these will be in third countries. But even if we add those who will have dual citizenship, the total is still expected to be a few hundred at the most—I would say a couple of hundred at best.
§ On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.