953
British Nationality
[ 22 JUNE 1981]
I think it is fair of the Government to ask your Lordships to bear in mind that this Bill is based upon a very great deal of the previous Government Green Paper, and that Green Paper was clear that British citizenship needed to identify those who belong in this country. It is not surprising that the previous Govern- ment took that view, for, as today's debate has shown, our present law is full of anomalies. The subject is complex and I know it gives rise to controversy, but that is no reason for the tabling of amendments which are going to have the effect of doing no more than turning their backs on the need for modernising our nationality law and simply hoping that the problem will go away.
Lord Mishcon: My Lords, the noble Lord the Minister is always courteous; I am grateful to him for allowing me to intervene. Will he be good enough, because it is so important, to deal not with the question of delay or what another Government might have done, but with the whole question of the public rela- tions exercise which is so obviously necessary, as the most reverend Primate has already said and, indeed, as has been enchoed in so many circles? Will he deal with that point?
Lord Belstead: My Lords, I think I can best deal with the question which the noble Lord has asked me, as my noble friend Lord Renton did, by reminding your Lordships of the view which was put forward by Mr. Alexander Lyon, a former Home Office Minister in the Labour Party in another place, who took a leading part for the Opposition on the Bill in Com- mittee. After hours and hours of discussion on the Third Reading he said that after the Bill is enacted a British citizen will have all the rights, all the obligations and all the privileges that now attach to his status as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies who is patrial. After all those hours of consideration, Mr. Lyon added that he reckoned that would mean about 95 per cent. of the people living in this country. He then went on to say of the other 5 per cent. who have come here from abroad in recent years or who were born to those who are here from abroad, that they will also be British citizens. I am suggesting to the noble Lord, Lord Mishcon, that so far as hearts and minds are concerned in this Bill, after hours and hours of debate an opponent of the Bill delivered himself to that particular judgement.
I think, therefore, that I am entitled to say that the Government believe, particularly after amendments made since its introduction, that this Bill is on the right lines. It will bring security to our ethnic minorities for at last it gives us British citizenship which un- ambiguously carries with it the right of abode in this country. That is a very significant step for good race relations. I am sure that it is right that your Lordships should now give this very detailed Bill proper scrutiny in Committee. I, therefore, have no hesitation in recommending that your Lordships should this evening give the Bill a Second Reading.
On Question, Bill read 2a.
Lord Avebury: My Lords, I beg to move that the Bill be committed to a Select Committee.
Moved, That the Bill be committed to a Select Committee. (Lord Avebury.)
10.36 p.m.
Bill
954
On Question, Whether the said Motion shall be agreed to?
Their Lordships divided: Contents, 42; Not- Contents, 99.
Airedale, L. Amherst, E. Avebury, L. Aylestone, L. Barrington, V.
Beaumont of Whitley, L.
Brockway, L. Byers, L. Canterbury, Abp.
Carlisle, Bp.
Chichester, Bp.
Chitnis, L.
CONTENTS
Hunt, L.
Donaldson of Kingsbridge, L.
Foot, L. Gifford, L. Gladwyn, L. Grey, E. Hampton, L. Hereford, Bp.
Houghton of Sowerby, L. Howie of Troon, L.
Jenkins of Putney, L. Kennet, L. [Teller.] Kilmarnock, L.
Lincoln, Bp.
Listowel, E.
MacLeod of Fuinary, L. Northfield, L.
Ogmore, L.
Pitt of Hampstead, L. Rochester, Bp.
Rochester, L.
Seear, B.
Simon, V.
Southwark, Bp.
Stedman, B.
Taylor of Gryfe, L.
Truro, Bp.
Wedderburn of Charlton, L.
Whaddon, L.
Wigoder, L. [Teller.]
NOT-CONTENTS
Airey of Abingdon, B. Atholl, D. Auckland, L. Avon, E. Bellwin, L. Beloff, L. Belstead, L. Bessborough, E, Boardman, L. Boyd of Merton, V. Boyd-Carpenter, L. Brougham and Vaux, L... Caithness, E.
Campbell of Croy, L. Chelwood, L. Cockfield, L.
Colville of Culross, V. Colwyn, L. Craigavon, V. Craigmyle, L. Crathorne, E.
Cullen of Ashbourne, L. De La Warr, E. Denham, L. [Teller.] Digby, L.
Dilhorne, V.
Drumalbyn, L. Eccles, V. Elles, B.
Elliot of Harwood, B. Elton, L.
Erroll of Hale, L. Faithfull, B. Fortescue, E. Gainford, L. Geddes, L.
Gibson-Watt, L.
Gowrie, E. Gridley, L.
Hailsham of Saint
Marylebone, L. Harmar-Nicholls, L. Harvey of Prestbury, L. Henley, L.
Home of the Hirsel, L. Hornsby-Smith, B. Hylton-Foster, B. Kinnoull, E. Lauderdale, E. Long, V.
Loudoun, C.
Lucas of Chilworth, L. Lyell, L.
McFadzean, L.
Mackay of Clashfern, L.
Mackintosh of Halifax, V.
Marley, L.
Massereene and Ferrard, V.
Merrivale, L.
Mersey, V.
Monk Bretton, L.
Mowbray and Stourton, L. Murton of Lindisfarne, L. Norfolk, D. Northchurch, B.
Nugent of Guildford, L. Nunburnholme, L.
Orkney, E.
Orr-Ewing, L.
Pender, L.
Penrhyn, L.
Rawlinson of Ewell, L.
Reigate, L.
Renton, L.
Renwick, L.
Romney, E.
St. Aldwyn, E.
Sandys, L. [Teller.]
Shannon, E.
Sharples, B.
Skelmersdale, L.
Soames, L.
Spens, L.
Stamp, L.
Stodart of Leaston, L.
Stradbroke, E.
Strathmore and Kinghorne, E.
Terrington, L.
Teviot, L.
Trefgarne, L. Trenchard, V.
Trumpington, B.
Vaux of Harrowden, L.
Vickers, B.
Vivian, L.
Ward of Witley, V.
Westbury, L.
Wynford, L. Yarborough, E.
Young, B.
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