§ 70. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many, and what proportion of, British colonial servants have agreed to continue their service under the new united Somaliland Government; if that Government has applied for administrative assistance from this country; and whether Somalis in this country are now classified as aliens unless they now become naturalised.
§ Mr. R. AllanUnder the Interim Agreement for a United Kingdom Aid Mission, which was signed in Hargeisa on 26th June, 69 senior expatriate staff, principally from the United Kingdom, have agreed to remain for a period of up to six months in the public service of Somaliland, and the decisions of a further six are awaited. This compares with about 190 senior expatriate officers employed there in April of this year. A further 109 junior expatriate staff, principally from India and Pakistan, have likewise agreed to remain.
The third part of the Question is the concern of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I understand, however, that 146W persons who, immediately prior to Somaliland's attainment of independence on 26th June, 1960, were British protected persons by virtue of their connection with the Protectorate, became aliens on that date; but that special arrangements have been made to minimise hardship and difficulties for them.