Overview

This bill aims to remove existing restrictions on nationality for people working for the UK government (Crown employment), allowing individuals of any nationality to be employed, while also granting the government the power to re-impose nationality requirements in specific cases as needed.

Description

The bill primarily repeals outdated laws that restricted Crown employment based on nationality. Specifically, it removes:

• Section 3 of the Act of Settlement, which prevented non-UK born individuals from holding certain government positions.
• Section 6 of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act 1919, preventing the appointment of non-UK citizens to civil service roles.
• The entirety of the Aliens Employment Act 1955 and two European Communities Orders (1991 and 2007) related to civil service employment.

However, the bill also empowers the government to create new rules specifying nationality requirements for specific government positions, or for positions where a minister deems it necessary for nationality restrictions to be in place. These rules can extend to individuals connected (family members) to those holding these positions. The bill includes provisions to allow for exemptions, particularly for those already employed in specific roles before a set date, and offers the flexibility to grant exemptions in certain cases.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a direct impact on government spending. The removal of existing restrictions might lead to a wider pool of candidates for government positions, potentially reducing recruitment costs in the long run, although this is uncertain.

Groups Affected

• Non-UK Citizens: Could experience either increased opportunities (if no new restrictions are imposed) or continued/new restrictions (if new rules are introduced) for government employment.
• UK Citizens: May face increased competition for jobs if the removal of restrictions leads to a larger applicant pool.
• Government Departments: Will have the ability to implement new nationality rules for specific roles, potentially influencing staffing decisions.
• Security Services (MI5, MI6, GCHQ): The bill allows the heads of these agencies to grant exemptions from any new nationality rules they may introduce.

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