§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the full circumstances in which Mr. Tariq Ali became a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
§ Mr. LaneMr. Tariq Ali applied for registration as a citizen of the United 487W Kingdom and Colonies under Section 6 (1) of the British Nationality Act 1948. Since he showed that he possessed the qualifications required for registration thereunder, he had an absolute right to registration and was registered earlier this year.
By reason of Schedule 1 to the Immigration Act 1971 registration as of right under Section 6 (1) is now restricted to certain transitional cases, namely, those of applicants who can show that they have been ordinarily resident and free of any restriction on their stay in this country since 1st January 1973 when the 1971 Act came into force, and, in all, for a period of five years. In other cases application must be made under Section 5A of the 1948 Act, which provides for discretionary registration as opposed to registration as of right.