HC Deb 21 May 1984 vol 60 cc350-1W
Mr. Stanbrook

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the present total numbers of people entitled to the status of British protected person; and where the majority are located.

Mr. Whitney

Since not all British protected persons resident abroad register with our missions and British protected person status is lost automatically on the acquisition of another nationality, it is not possible to provide a wholly reliable estimate. Records held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office suggest, however, that the total figure is under 10,000 and that the majority of these are resident in eastern and central Africa and India.