TNAG-2976-FCO40-1245-Effect-of-the-UK-nationality-laws-on-Dependent-Territories-B-1981 — Page 83

FROM:

Lord Trefgarne

DEPARTMENT:

ECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

p Secret

tret.

fidential

estricted

classified

Timothy Raison Esq MP

Home Office

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TEL. NO:

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SUBJECT:

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL: THE CROWN SERVANT PROVISIONS

When Ian Gilmour wrote to the Home Secretary on 1 December 1980 about Crown Servants in the descent

clauses of the Bill he asked if the Home Office could ensure that the provisions were drafted so as to cover Crown Servants on secondment to international organisations, British Council staff overseas and members of HM Overseas Civil Service. Also that the Bill would provide that existing children of Crown Servants would be deemed to be British citizens by birth as. from commencement of the new Act. We were grateful to the Home Office for drafting the Bill accordingly. The assurances given to Diplomatic Service staff on behalf of Peter Carrington have so far been amply justified.

We are however a little concerned by the possibility that in the Parliamentary hurly-burly of the final stages of the Bill the Crown Servant provision itself might be jeopardized. This will have to be carefully guarded against. As you know the Crown Servant provision

is intended to meet the case of members of the Armed

Forces and of the Diplomatic Service whose children would have been born in this country had the parent not been posted abroad on government service.: In addition clause 2(3) of the Bill will enable the

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