HL Deb 24 September 2002 vol 638 cc214-5WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Filkin on 18 July (WA 172), whether the British Asian passport holders seeking to enter and settle in the United Kingdom are worse off now than they were under the Special Voucher Scheme; and, if so, what is the justification for this; and [HL5511]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Filkin on 18 July (WA 172), whether in giving "sympathetic consideration" to applications made by British overseas citizens prior to coming into force of the provisions in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, they will ensure that British Asian passport holders previously eligible under the Special Voucher Scheme will not receive any less favourable treatment than that they would have received prior the scheme's abolition on 5 March; and [HL5512]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Filkin on 18 July (WA 172), why they decided to abolish the Special Voucher Scheme with immediate effect on 5 March, having regard to their intention to introduce the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill. [HL5513]

Lord Filkin

British Overseas Citizen (BOC) passport holders were only eligible to apply for a special voucher if they lived in East Africa or had an East African connection, where they were under pressure to leave their country and held no other nationality. The scheme was abolished in March because it no longer served the purpose for which it was set up and, since that time, BOCs wishing to settle in the United Kingdom have had to qualify under the general provisions of the Immigration Rules. Sympathetic consideration will be given to applications from BOCs in special cases of hardship but each case will be determined on its own merit.

At the time the scheme was abolished there was no intention of introducing a more general right of settlement for BOCs. However, following representations about the position of BOCs with no other nationality, the Government announced its intention to include some provision in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill. Under these provisions, all BOCs who hold no other nationality and have not renounced any other nationality will have the right to register as British citizens.