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THOMPSON FORMULA ET SEQ
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1. I was asked by [Mr Tilley] to say more about the administrative concession by which Gibraltarians are free to enter the UK without restriction - a concession which has existed since Spain imposed certain restrictions some 12 years or more ago. That of course was before the United Kingdom [and Gibraltar] joined the EC. They are now UK nationals for EC purposes and as such may look for work in any Community country with their dependants. [So if the restrictions were lifted
as we very much hope will happen there could not in any event be any question of a reversion to the situation which existed
before. With our entry into the EC all Gibraltarians have an entitlement to come to the UK and indeed any other community country, with their dependants, to look for work under the EC directive on freedom of movement of labour]. As a matter of administrative practice UK immigration controls generally are applied to all people from EC countries, including Gibraltar, much more loosely than with the rest of the world simply because of the freedom of movement of workers. And some Gibraltarians would have British citizenship anyway from birth in the UK or descent from a UK-born parent. So the vast majority of Gibraltarians wishing to come to the UK will continue to be free to come here in any event. And if they come here and stay for 5 years they will be able to as Citizens of the British Dependent Territories obtain our citizenship under Clause 7 which we introduced and approved recently as New Clause 9.
[If vital after challenge subject to approval by Mr Raison]
2.
In reality it would be pointless to seek to exercise control kup out the UK, over the few Gibraltarians who would not be covered either by their
not be speak
relatively
citizenship of the EC provisions. So in practice Gibraltarians would
not be prevented from coming to the UK to live.