§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has discretionary powers to permit all citizens of British dependent territories from the Falkland Islands to take up employment without restriction or controls in the same way as Common Market nationals and citizens of France's overseas territories may do.
§ Mr. WaddingtonNo. Non-patrial citizens of the United Kingdom's dependent territories normally require work permits.
However, I understand that the majority of Falkland Islanders have the right of abode in the United Kingdom and are therefore exempt from immigration and work permit controls. The exercise of discretion to admit non-patrial citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies without restrictions is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. My right hon. Friend has already stated that in the present circumstances all Falkland Islanders, whether they have the right of abode or not, will be admitted for settlement in the United Kingdom; consequently there will be no restriction on their taking employment. —[Vol. 21, c. 421–22].