HC Deb 30 June 1976 vol 914 cc185-6W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why

three months at Risley Remand Centre, near Warrington.

Mr. John

The information is as follows:

two South African-born young men whose mother was British-born and resident until her marriage and who holds a British passport, and whose two grandparents are British-born and resident, are not allowed to claim British citizenship; and what is the position regarding similar circumstances of young men born in India, Pakistan and other former British Commonwealth countries.

Dr. Summerskill

Our nationality law makes no provision for the transmission of citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, and the status of British subjects, through the female line. The question whether a change should be made is among those under consideration in the current review of nationality law.

Men holding the citizenship of any independent Commonwealth or foreign country may also hold the citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies if they meet the statutory requirements, for example that of descent from a father born in the United Kingdom or one of our present colonies.