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SECRETANT
DATED
8 JUNE 1982.
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As you know Andrew Bennett intends to seek the leave of the House on Tuesday, 22nd June, under the ten minute rule procedure, to introduce a Bill to enable Falkland Islanders to acquire British citizenship.
About three-quarters of the Falkland Islanders already have a right to settle in the United Kingdom and we have made it quite clear that any Falkland Islander is free to enter the country whether he has the right of abode or not. This meets earlier commitments which the Government gave to the Islanders.
During the passage of the British Nationality Act 1981 we resisted special treatment for the Falkland Islands on the ground of the implications this might have for other dependencies, particularly Hong Kong and despite the greatly altered circumstances this objection of principle remains. The effect that such a concession might have on any negotiations about the future of the Islands is an additional difficulty. Furthermore amendments to the British Nationality Act 1981 could imperil the prospects of bringing the Act into force on 1st January 1983 which would be a serious setback for the Government.
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For these reasons the Bill would be unacceptable and although clearly we should avoid opposing the motion, discreet arrangements should be made to prevent the Bill making progress on the nod. is, of course, no private Members' time for it to be debated in the Commons. In the unlikely event of a division on the motion to introduce the Bill Ministers present should abstain.
I am sending copies of this to Michael Jopling, Members of the OD and I Committees, First Parliamentary Counsel, the Lord Advocate's Department and the Secretaries to Legislation Committee.
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