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353
Falkland Islanders'
[ 29 JULY 1982 ]
L Trefgarne: I would not accept that, my Lords, I gave figures in my original Answer relating to the increase in productivity for the quarter March, April and May of this year. I accept that we are probably now on something of a plateau. I certainly do not accept that productivity is likely to decline. The important thing is to keep inflation under control and to notice the drops in interest rates, for example, which have occurred over roughly the same period.
Viscount Massereene and Ferrard: My Lords, would my noble friend agree that you cannot have a great increase in productivity if you have overmanning?
Lord Trefgarne: My noble friend is quite right, my Lords, but it is fair to say also that there has been a very substantial improvement in productivity in British industry in recent months.
Lord Balogh: My Lords, does the Minister realise that productivity can increase in some of the least productive areas, even with factories closing, and that that has nothing to do with an increase in general economic growth? Does the noble Lord also realise that his friends at The Stock Exchange take a different view from him?
Lord Trefgarne: My Lords, I am aware that the noble Lord has views which differ from those of the Government. I am afraid that I just do not agree with him.
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Falkland Islanders Citizenship
Lord Boyd-Carpenter: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation to amend the British Nationality Act 1982 so as to make citizenship of the United Kingdom available to citizens of the Falkland Islands on the same basis as it is available under that Act to the citizens of Gibraltar.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Elton): My Lords, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has made it clear in another place that no Falkland Islander, whether he has the right of abode or not, will have any difficulty over admission to this country. For this reason we see no immediate need to introduce amending legislation.
Lord Boyd-Carpenter: My Lords, is my noble friend aware that when a group of wealthy Argentines during the recent conflict took advertising space in the press, they attached considerable weight to the allega- tion that under the British Nationality Act the Falk- landers were not given the fullest rights of citizenship? Would it not be a very proper acknowledgement of the loyalty and devotion of these people under des- perately trying conditions for Parliament now to confer this on them?
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Lord Elton: My Lords, while I always have the highest regard for what my noble friend suggests, I do not think that it is proper to use legislation as an instrument of propaganda warfare.
Several noble Lords: Oh!
Lord Bruce of Donington: My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the House gave a First Reading to a Bill to amend the Nationality Act in order to accomp- lish the exact purposes which his noble friend Lord Boyd-Carpenter has in mind? Will the noble Lord make quite sure that the Bill receives a 'speedy passage/ through the House?
Lord Elton: My Lords, it will be for the House to decide on the speed of its passage. I think that it is already placed on the timetable.
Lord Stewart of Fulham: My Lords, ought not the noble Lord to be influenced by the fact that when we were discussing the British Nationality Act the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, took a contrary view? Should there not be more joy over his repentance, than over all the just persons who voted the right way in the first place?
Lord Elton: My Lords, I can never regard my noble friend without joy, whatever his opinions.
Viscount Massereene and Ferrard: My Lords, would not my noble friend agree that the Falkland islanders have been of pure British descent for generations, whereas citizens of Gibraltar, with due respect to them, are not?---or at least very few of them are.
Lord Elton: My Lords, that is largely why about 1,500 of the Falkland islanders, which is the vast majority of the population, will automatically become British citizens at the beginning of next year. We are talking of a balance of about 400 who will have direct access to British soil should they wish to have it, and who will be able to take up residence here. My noble friend also referred to Gibraltar. The distinction between the two is of course that the Gibraltarians will be within the bounds of the European Economic Community, and as such are technically already with us in nationality.
Lord Avebury: My Lords, did the Minister say that it would be for the House to decide on the proposal of the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, and will the Government make sure that the House does have an opportunity of deciding on the matter? Is he aware that when the proposal was put to your Lordships by the noble Baroness, Lady Vickers, it was lost by only a very narrow margin, and that if it were now put again, with the support of so many noble Lords sitting behind the Minister, it is certain that it would be accepted?
Lord Elton: My Lords, I understand that the noble Lord's Bill is down on the timetable for a Second Reading, and your Lordships will make up your minds about it when it reaches that stage.
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