HC Deb 02 May 2002 vol 384 c892W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people he estimates hold British overseas citizenship; and what information he holds about their countries of residence. [52407]

Angela Eagle

There is no reliable way of estimating the number of British overseas citizens. However, returns from our consulates and diplomatic missions suggest that there may be about 1.5 million such citizens, with the largest concentrations residing in Malaysia, India and Kenya. Many of these also hold the citizenship of the country in which they are resident.