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Eoreign and Commonwealth Office
HKK3H Condon SW1A 2AH
From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Richard Luce MP
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NO.
17 August 1979
SNN 340/2-C
You will recall that at the meeting of the Home and Social Affairs Committee on 31 July there was general anxiety among committee members about the prospect of preferential treatment being given to the children of Crown Servants and not to the children of British Council staff and businessmen. One way of allaying this anxiety would be to include a provision in a Nationality Bill similar to that adopted by New Zealand under which a citizen by descent who is suitably qualified can apply to be made a citizen by grant and so acquire the right to transmit his citizenship.
The Home Office have a copy of the New Zealand Act and there has been correspondence between officials on the possibility of including in our Nationality Bill a provision similar to that adopted by New Zealand. I understand, however, that you have objections to this. Perhaps you would kindly let me know what they are, and we might then discuss the matter further. There is considerable and widespread feeling that those with strong connections with Britain and who live abroad should have this facility, and we must, I think, make strenuous efforts to find a solution.
T Raison Esq MP Home Office
Queen Anne's Gate London SW1A 9AT
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