§ Mr. Matesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will outline the qualifications currently required for the descendants of United Kingdom passport holders in African countries to obtain passports of the "United Kingdom and Colonies", in cases where they are the grandchildren of the original United Kingdom passport holders at the time of independence.
§ Mr. LuardA man who acquired citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth, registration or naturalisation in a former United Kingdom dependency in Africa retained that status if, when the country concerned attained independence, he failed to acquire the local citizenship or he had certain connections with the United Kingdom or a remaining dependency. His children born after the relevant independence date are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies wherever born. His son's child will be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies if the place of birth of the son or the child is in the United Kingdom or a territory which was or is a colony, protectorate, protected state or trust territory at the time of the birth concerned. Alternatively, the son's child will be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies if born in a foreign country and the birth is registered at a British consulate, or the son is in Crown service when the child is born.
A citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, however his citizenship is derived, qualifies to hold a British passport.