HC Deb 23 October 1972 vol 843 c172W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will lay a White Paper containing the circumstances in which East African Asians were given United Kingdom passports and the test of any assurances given them at the time of the independence of the former British East African terrorities; and whether he will make a statement on the extent to which citizenship or other status is conferred by the grant of a passport by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I do not think that a White Paper would be appropriate.

At the time of the independence of the former British East African Territories, no specific undertakings were made either about the entry of East African Asians as such to the United Kingdom or about retention of citizenship. But this does not affect the obligation to admit nationals in certain circumstances if they are expelled and have nowhere else to go.

The grant of a United Kingdom passport does not in itself confer a citizenship or other status on the holder. It recognises the status which he already has and is accepted internationally for travel purposes.