British Overseas Territories Bill [H.L.]

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 1:30 pm on 24 July 2001.

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Photo of Baroness Rawlings Baroness Rawlings Conservative 1:30, 24 July 2001

In speaking to Amendment No. 8, I ask whether it is the Government's intention to allow these newly "independent" territories to confer citizenship on whomever they choose?

I should be interested to learn what responsibilities the Government envisage for the Governors of the overseas territories--a point referred to earlier by my noble friend Lord Waddington--after the commencement of the Act. If an overseas territory chooses to grant British Overseas Territories citizenship to an individual, will the Secretary of State need to endorse every new citizen? We on these Benches feel that this could be very demeaning for the new British Overseas Territories citizens. I beg to move.