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The Lord Privy Seal has seen the letter that Lesley Pallett sent to you on 23 July about Lord Bruce of Donington's Falkland Islands (British Citizenship) (No 2) Bill. She has also seen Willie Rickett's letter to you of 26 July on the same subject.

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The Chief Whip (Lords) will do all he can to avoid having a Second Reading debate until the week beginning Monday 18 October at the earliest. Indeed if, but only if, Lord Bruce makes clear in advance his intention to pursue his Bill both this session and next, the Chief Whip will urge him to drop this session's Bill in favour of a Bill in November.

The Lord Privy Seal recognises that the Government face a very difficult situation on Lord Bruce's Bill. She, has asked me to circulate with this letter copies of the exchange which took place on the floor of the House last week on an oral question by Lord Boyd-Carpenter. Bearing in mind the tied vote during the Report Stage of the British Nationality Bill last October, and the strength of feeling which now clearly exists, it is clear that, no matter how carefully the Second Reading of the Bill is handled, the Government are likely to suffer embarrassment or, if put to a vote, defeat.

In the circumstances, the Lord Privy Seal broadly agrees the line suggested by the Home Secretary. It seems very likely that Lord Bruce will not agree to withdraw his Bill on Second Reading. If the matter is pressed to a division, Lord Bruce will win regardless of whether Ministers abstain or vote against the Bill.

The Lord Privy Seal suggests that if Lord Bruce does not withdraw, steps should be taken to ensure that there is no division and that the Bill receives a Second Reading on question (ie without a division but without unanimous assent). Lord Bruce may well pursue his Bill next session and seek to take it through all its stages in the Lords. If he did this at a relatively early stage in the new session, the Bill would arrive in the Commons well before the last Private Member's Bill days in that House. The Lord Privy Seal recognises that this could cause very considerable handling difficulties in the House of Commons.

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