HL Deb 14 June 1977 vol 384 cc151-2WA
Lord MORRIS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) whether any representations have been received from the Falkland Islands or from organisations connected with the Islands, during the past three years, which could have a bearing on the Green Paper on British Nationality Law (April 1977);
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  2. (ii) how precisely the Falkland Islanders would be affected by the Green Paper's proposals; and
  3. (iii) what steps are being taken to invite comment from the Falkland Islanders on these proposals.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

Representations about Falkland Islanders' rights to enter, live and work in Britain have been made by a number of individual Islanders over the past three years, as well as by two Falkland Island Councillors during a wider ranging discussion with the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Ennals, in Rio de Janeiro on 27th May 1975, and also by the London Branch of the Falkland Islands Committee to the then Home Secretary on 25th November 1975.

If proposals in the Green Paper were to be embodied in legislation, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies connected with the Falkland Islands might be affected in various ways. Those who, or whose fathers, were born, naturalised or registered in the Islands, will become British overseas citizens. Those who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom through their own or a parent's or grandparent's birth, naturalisation, registration, or adoption in the United Kingdom, might become British citizens and as such would continue to have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. Some Islanders would qualify for both citizenships.

The Statement which the Home Secretary made about the Green Paper in the House of Commons on 27th April was broadcast in full by Falklands Radio that same day. Copies of the Green Paper were given at that time to all members of the Islands' Executive and Legislative Councils with the suggestion that they discuss its contents among themselves and with constituents as a first step towards considering representations. An information sheet on the nationality proposals was subsequently distributed to the Falklands public. Comments are invited from any interested bodies and individuals in the last paragraph of page 6 of the Green Paper which solicits the views of those who wish to express them.