9.
(b) because if they do resettle in the United Kingdom, they will be
entitled, if they and the child have been resident for 3 years, to
have the child registered.
Various ways have been sought of enabling the family of British descent to
continue to secure British status for its children, without at the same time
making it possible for large numbers of people whose origins are in the principal
countries of immigration to add to the pool of British citizens overseas who will
be entitled to come to this country. While many of the families about whom
concern has been expressed have every intention of continuing to make their lives
in countries overseas, or of continuing in the service of firms which operate
overseas, experience shows plainly that people from the countries of immigration
will make use of any concession to increase the number of their relatives who
can secure admission to the United Kingdom for settlement.
The results in terms
If a
of immigration cannot be accurately forecast, but would be considerable.
provision were to be included based on long-established ancestral connection it
would be criticised as racialist; and as new generations grow up it would anyway
become less effective.
10.
The various devices which have been considered are set out below, with some
comments on their practicability:
(a) To retain citizenship by consular registration of births
Comment
There would now be no logical reason for not extending consular
registration of births to Commonwealth as well as to foreign
countries. Nor would it be practicable to continue to limit
transmission of citizenship to the male line as at present,
because of the pressure for equal treatment of the sexes. Since
British citizenship is to carry with it the right of abode in the
- 5-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.