BACKGROUND
CONFIDENTIAL
- 16
This amendment has been laid by Mr Enoch Powell and supported by the
Opposition.
Mr George Robertson hinted at this course of action in his winding up speech for the opposition in the Second Reading debate as a way of forcing the Government to agree to debating the Order in Council
on nationality in draft. Mr Powell made clear in his speech that he would not accept debate on a draft Order in Council as
a compromise. In his view the creation of a new nationality status should as a matter of principle be made by primary legislation. He argued that only in this way could the House concentrate successively on each different point that arises. He also opposed the granting of a continuing British National status after 1997 to Hong Kong BDTCs.
We hope that the Opposition will withdraw their support for the amendment before the committee stage in the light of the Government's concession on a debate on a "green edged" draft Order in Council.
CONFIDENTIAL