TNAG-1125-FCO40-1400-British-Nationality-Act-1981-and-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 115

CONFIDENTIAL

'DSR 11 (Revised)

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DRAFT:

minute/KHXXXXXXX/XXXXXXXXX

FROM:

CP Burdess

DEPARTMENT:

TEL. NO:

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

Mr Donald

PS/Lord Belstead

TYPE: Draft/Final 1+

Reference

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.In Confidence

CAVEAT.........

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A

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SUBJECT: PITCAIRN ISLANDERS AND THE 1981 BRITISH NATIONAL

ACT

PROBLEM

1.

Following Lord Belstead's answers to Baroness

Llewelyn-Davies' Supplementary Questions in the House

on 19 July, there might be some misunderstanding about

the rights of Pitcairners under the 1981 British Nationa

Act. What clarification, if any, should be given?

RECOMMENDATION

2.

I recommend that the position be clarified through

a short inspired PQ along the lines of the attached

draft. NTD, MVD and the Home Office, HKGD, SAMD, SED

and WIAD concur,

BACKGROUND

3. As Lord Belstead pointed out in the House, it is most unlikely that the Pitcairners would want to settle

in the UK. Most are content with their way of life and

those who do leave, usually young people, settle in New Zealand, where they get their secondary education,. rather than Britain. There is just a possibility that, with the shrinking population of Pitcairn, the

Pitcairners will at some point decide that their community is no longer viable and seek to resettle