HC Deb 02 July 1980 vol 987 c575W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the differences in rights and obligations between United Kingdom citizens and persons accepted for settlement; and if a person is accepted for settlement, under what circumstances his depandants are not permitted to acquire citizenship.

Mr. Raison

A person is settled in the United Kingdom if he is ordinarily resident here without being subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on the period for which he may remain. The main difference from the immigration point of view between citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom and persons accepted for settlement is that the former are exempt from control under the Immigration Act 1971 while the latter remain subject to control and with certain exceptions are liable to deportation. The civic rights and obligations of British subjects extend to all Commonwealth citizens irrespective of their status under the immigration law. A person is not eligible for citizenship solely by reason of being a dependant of someone who is accepted for settlement, though he may in due course be able to acquire citizenship by registration or naturalisation when he can satisfy the qualifications laid down in the British Nationality Acts.

Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of persons resident in the United Kingdom accepted for settlement but not with United Kingdom citizenship.

Mr. Raison

This information is not available.