10. Where appropriate, these changes have been carried through into
the scheme for citizenship of the British Dependent Territories, to
the benefit of that scheme too. I would reiterate, my Lords, the
Government's total commitment to the maintenance of our existing
very strong links with the dependencies. Nothing in this Bill in any
way weakens our constitutional relationship with them or our obligation
to represent their interests internationally.
11. My Lords, much has been done therefore in your Lordships' House
But, though
to this Bill and for the most part to its betterment.
altered in many respects, the basic structure of the Bill remains,
broadly speaking, as it arrived in your Lordships' House. It continues
to provide for the replacement of the confused and outmoded arrangements
for citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies with three statuses -
British citizenship, which carries with it the right of abode for those
who have links with the United Kingdom: citizenship of the British
Dependent Territories for those who have links with existing dependent
territories; and British Overseas citizenship for those citizens of the
United Kingdom and Colonies who have links neither with the United
Kingdom nor the dependent territories.
12. My Lords, there are bound to be some aspects of this scheme of
citizenship which do not find favour. But there can be no doubt, my
Lords, that, whatever objections of detail there may be, this measure
will mark a real advance. At last our citizenship law will be on a
rational basis, and at last we shall have a British citizenship which carries with it the right of abode in this country - a citizenship
which defines those who belong to this country and are part of it, a
citizenship which puts an end to the damaging uncertainties of our
present arrangements.
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