S.C.D.
Amendment Paper as at
Thursday 6th December 2001
STANDING COMMITTEE D
Mr Ben Bradshaw
That, during proceedings on the British Overseas Territories Bill [Lords], the Committee do meet on Tuesdays at half-past Ten o'clock and at half-past Four o'clock and on Thursdays at fifteen minutes to Ten o'clock and at half-past Two o'clock.
BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES BILL [LORDS]
Mr Michael Trend
2
Clause 3, page 2, line 21, leave out subsection (2).
Jeremy Corbyn
6
Clause 3, page 2, line 23, at end insert 'or the British Antarctic Territories'.
Mr Michael Trend
3
Clause 3, page 2, line 24, leave out subsection (3).
Jeremy Corbyn
7
Clause 3, page 2, line 29, at end add—
'(4) Persons who were resident on the Chagos Islands but were subsequently removed, and their descendents, shall be eligible for British Citizenship within the meaning of this Act.
(5) Schedule (Chagos Islands) has effect.'.
Mr Michael Trend
4
Clause 4, page 2, leave out lines 39 and 40.
Mr Ben Bradshaw
1
Clause 7, page 3, line 12, after 'Schedule 1,' insert—
| '(aa) | section (The Ilois: citizenship)'. |
Mr Michael Trend
5
Clause 7, page 3, line 18, at end insert 'but no such order shall be made until the constitutional arrangements for each of the British overseas territories have been agreed.'
NEW CLAUSES
The Ilois: citizenship
Mr Ben Bradshaw
NC1
To move the following Clause:—
'(1) A person shall become a British citizen on the commencement of this section if—
| (a) | he was born on or after 26 April 1969 and before 1 January 1983, |
| (b) | he was born to a woman who at the time was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by virtue of her birth in the British Indian Ocean Territory, and |
| (c) | immediately before the commencement of this section he was neither a British citizen nor a British overseas territories citizen. |
(2) A person who is a British citizen by virtue of subsection (1) is a British citizen by descent for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1981 (c.61).'.
(3) A person shall become a British overseas territories citizen on the commencement of this section if—
| (a) | subsection (1)(a) and (b) apply in relation to him, and |
| (b) | immediately before the commencement of this section he was not a British overseas territories citizen. |
(4) A person who is a British overseas territories citizen by virtue of subsection (3) is such a citizen by descent for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1981 (c.61).
Abandoned infants
Mr Richard Spring
NC2
To move the following Clause:—
'Citizenship conferred under the terms of this Act upon any abandoned infant shall apply to that one person alone.'.
Application of European Union Rules on Citizenship
Mr Richard Spring
NC3
To move the following Clause:—
'European Union rules governing citizenship shall not extend to British Overseas Territories Citizens who claim British Citizenship, unless, and until, they become naturalised and exercise their right of abode in the UK.'.
Benefits
Mr Richard Spring
NC4
To move the following Clause:—
'Any person who qualifies to be recognised as a British citizen under this Act is entitled to receive such rights and benefits as if they were settled in the United Kingdom.'.
Report
Mr Richard Spring
NC5
To move the following Clause:—
'Within 12 months of the commencement of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs shall lay a report before Parliament setting out—
| (a) | the number of British Overseas Territories Citizens taking up British Citizenship; |
| (b) | the number of these taking up right of abode in the UK; |
| (c) | the cost per applicant;'. |
Annual report
Mr Michael Trend
NC6
To move the following Clause:—
'The Secretary of State shall make an annual report to Parliament on the British overseas terrorities'.
British Antarctic Territories
Jeremy Corbyn
NC7
To move the following Clause:—
'This Act shall not apply to the British Antarctic Territories.'.
Jeremy Corbyn
8
Schedule 1, page 4, line 12, at end insert '"; or—
| (c) | and persons removed from the Chagos Islands and their descendants".'. |
NEW SCHEDULE
Chagos Islands
Jeremy Corbyn
NS1
To move the following Schedule:—
'. This Act recognises that the people and their descendents removed from the Chagos Islands have a legal right of return.
2. the elected representatives of the Islands are recognised for local administrative purposes, as a council.
3. Until the Islands have been re-settled the Secretary of State shall—
| (a) | ensure sufficient funds are available to the elected representatives to discharge their duties. |
| (b) | establish a trust fund for the social and economic needs of the Chagos Islanders to ensure their welfare, to be administered by the Chagos Islands Council and the Commissioner on behalf of the Secretary of State.'. |
