HC Deb 19 February 1968 vol 759 cc44-5W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange to compile statistics of passports withdrawn from citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies of Rhodesian origin.

Mr. George Thomas:

I presume that by "citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies of Rhodesian origin" the hon. Gentleman is referring to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who, or whose fathers, were born in Rhodesia and who thus have both citizenships.

Accurate statistics of passports withdrawn from such dual citizens could not be compiled by the examination of passports alone. Whilst the holder of a United Kingdom passport who was born in Rhodesia can clearly be identified as a United Kingdom/Rhodesian dual citizen, the holder of a Rhodesian passport who was born in Rhodesia could also be a dual citizen by descent, and this could not be ascertained from his passport.