§ LORD COLYTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discrimination on grounds of race, colour or nationality exists in former British African Colonies, Protectorates or Trusteeship territories recently become independent whether imposed by Statute, regulation or constitutional enactment against British subjects of United Kingdom origin in regard to immigration, taxation, the ownership or purchase of freehold property or leases, the parliamentary franchise or membership of political Parties.
§ LORD TAYLORThere is no discrimination in law on grounds of race, colour or nationality against British subjects of United Kingdom origin as such in the former British dependent countries of West, East and Central Africa in the various fields mentioned.
Such differences of treatment as do operate in these fields are based mainly on citizenship and residence; occasionally also legislation differentiates between Africans and non-Africans. In general these distinctions are provided for in independence constitutions or have their origins in legal provisions of the colonial period which were devised to safeguard the interests of Africans. Such provisions include, for example, those for safeguarding the land rights of the indigenous people; and for distinguishing between residents and non-residents, including resident and non-resident companies, for taxation purposes.
British subjects of U.K. origin are subject to the same immigration laws as affect all non-citizens of the countries concerned. A few recently independent countries have retained the former British colonial legislation providing for the deportation of British subjects; but this legislation has seldom been used and most deportations of British subjects of U.K. origin have been made under the relevant immigration legislation.
The Parliamentary franchise is based invariably on citizenship which in the large majority of these countries is open 1175WA to non-Africans. In practice only citizens of a country are likely to be considered for membership of political parties.