§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory requirements oblige him to introduce new immigration rules by 1 January 1983.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 come into force on 1 January 1983. Under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971 I am required to lay before Parliament statements of the rules32W laid down by me as to the practice to be followed in the administration of that Act. Since the present rules contain terms which will be altered by the British Nationality Act and make no provision for children born here, not all of whom after 1 January 1983 will be British citizens, it is necessary to change the rules. I made clear to the House on 30 July 1980 that it would be necessary to review the rules when the British Nationality Act was passed.