Lord Avebury (Spokesperson in the Lords (With Special Responsibility for Africa), Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs; Liberal Democrat)

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether (a) a British subject under the British Nationality Act 1981, other than by connection to the Republic of Ireland, or (b) a British protected person who acquires by registration Overseas Citizenship of India would automatically lose the status as a British subject or British protected person as a consequence; and

Whether an otherwise stateless British overseas citizen, British subject under the British Nationality Act 1981 or British protected person who acquires overseas citizenship of India would automatically cease to have an entitlement to register as a British citizen under Section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Minister of State (Criminal Justice and Offender Management), Home Office; Labour)

If a British subject under the British Nationality Act 1981, other than by connection to the Republic of Ireland, or a British protected person acquired India overseas citizenship they would automatically lose their status as a British subject or British protected person. Any British national holding Indian overseas citizenship would be ineligible for registration under Section 4B since they could not meet the requirements of Section 4B(2)(b) of the British Nationality Act 1981 to hold no other citizenship or nationality.