§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will restore the right of abode to residents of St. Helena; and if he will make a statement. [149199]
§ Mr. BattleThe restoration of British citizenship to the Overseas Territories will give their citizens the right of abode in the UK.
The Government remain fully committed to introducing legislation to give British citizenship to the people of the Overseas Territories including those of St. Helena. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office have been working on the principles to be set out in the Bill and draft instructions have been agreed. We recently initiated a consultation process with the Overseas Territories on issues related to the Bill and its implementation.
We will make parliamentary time available for this measure as soon as practicable.