§ 88. Mr. Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government about residence and citizenship of Somali seamen whose home has been in this country for many years and who, since the independence of Somalia, have been resident in this country on the basis of a Seaman's Certificate of Nationality, which will not be valid after 26th June, 1961.
§ Mr. R. A. Butler:All citizens of the former British Protectorate of Somali-land became aliens on 26th June, 1960, when their country attained independence; but those who were ordinarily resident in this country were exempted from the requirement to register with the police and are not subject to any conditions restricting their length of stay here or their freedom to take employment. They were permitted to retain for one year their former British passports or Seamen's Identity Certificates but if they wish to travel abroad after 26th June, 1961, they will need to obtain 85W travel documents from the Government of the Somali Republic. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an explanatory leaflet in English and Arabic which has been available since September, 1960, to Somalis in this country.