§ 2.46 p.m.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any of the dependencies have changed their immigration ordinances since the British Nationality Act 1982 received the Royal Assent; whether they will place copies of any such alterations in the Library; whether they will make an estimate of the number of British dependent territories' citizens who have no right of entry to any territory for which the United Kingdom is internationally responsible; and whether they will produce an analysis of such persons, showing their respective origins and numbers.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)My Lords, Hong Kong, Gibraltar and Montserrat have so far changed their immigration ordinances. Copies will be placed in the Library as soon as they become available. The other dependent territories are in the process of introducing similar changes. However, since such legislation is the responsibility of the individual territories, it is not possible at this stage to provide the assessments and analyses for which the noble Lord has asked. We expect that persons who held belonger status on 31st December 1982 will continue to hold that status.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, is it not the case that after this change, in the Gibraltar ordinance persons born in the territory of Gibraltar will no longer necessarily have the right of entry into that territory; that this applies also to Bermuda; but that, whereas the Gibraltarians have a right of registration as British citizens, the people born in Bermuda who do not have access to that territory may not be able to get British citizenship or, indeed, any other? Does the noble Lord, the Minister not agree that it is necessary to have comprehensive advice available for the agencies who will have to tell people about these matters? What information leaflets have the Government made available to CABs and others who will have to deal with questions of BDTC status?
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, until the ordinances are passed in the respective places it is difficult to be specific. I cannot therefore make a categorical statement at this stage, but we do not expect many people, if any, who were formerly citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies, to have their status vis-á-vis the dependent territories changed as a result of the change in the description of their citizenship following enactment of the British Nationality Act ** 1341 1982. Having said that, I accept that where it is appropriate for advice to be made available it should be made available.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, I wonder whether the noble Lord the Minister is aware of the particular case of St. Kitts, Nevis, where there have been anxieties that on independence, which will be conferred on the territories later this year, there might be a change in the status of persons living in this country? Will the noble Lord the Minister give an assurance that those persons will not have their status changed and that they will be eligible for British citizenship in the same way as were those from Belize?
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, I cannot give undertakings of the nature which the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, has asked me to give, but I can take his concern to my right honourable friend. If it is appropriate for him to do so, he will write to the noble Lord.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, is the noble Lord the Minister aware that such an undertaking has already been given by his right honourable friend the Minister, Mr. Waddington? I am only asking for this to be confirmed on the Floor of this House so that others may read of it.
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, if the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, has had an undertaking, it is not necessary to give another. If he has not, it would not be appropriate for me to give one.