CONFIDENTIAL
44. The Government think there is a good case for imposing some
restriction. There would be some administrative and practical
difficulties in doing so, and further study of these is being made.
If the difficulties can be surmounted, the Government will propose in
the Bill that the child of parents neither of whom is a British Citizen and neither of whom is free of conditions of stay, will not acquire British Citizenship solely by his birth here, though he would be entitled to registration if either parent was made free of conditions. In framing this provision regard will be had, as elsewhere in the Bill, to the United Kingom's, obligations under the Convention on the Reduction of
Statelessness.
British Citizenship by Adoption
45. The present law provides that when an adoption is authorised by a court in this country and the adoptive parent is a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies the child shall acquire that citizenship automatically as a result of the adoption. But where the adoption is a joint one by a husband and wife, the child acquires citizenship only if the
adoptive father is a citizen.
46. In accordance with the Government's desire to move towards equality
between the sexes in nationality matters the Bill will provide that where a court order is made in the United Kingdom authorising the joint adoption of a child by parents either of whom is a British Citizen, the child shall
become a British Citizen.
47. The nationality law at present contains no provision for an adoption overseas to carry with it Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies. The immigration law gives the right of abode to a child so adopted in a country whose adoption law has been specified under section 4 of the Adoption Act 1968, by parents one of whom is a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth or adoption in the United Kingdom.
48. It may be suggested that we should make provision for a child adopted overseas by parents who are British Citizens to be entitled to British Citizenship. There are arguments in favour of this. But one must bear in mind the likelihood that in some countries children would be adopted solely for the purpose of securing the right of admission to the United Kingdom;
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