British Citizenship Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will bring forward legislation to allow women to transmit their British citizenship to their children who were born to foreign fathers overseas before 7 February 1961. [HL2548] The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal) Since 1 January 1983 women have been able to pass on their citizenship to their children born overseas in the same way as men. Prior to that date, citizenship could be transmitted only through a British father, but it was announced on 7 February 1979 that children aged under l8 of UK-born mothers could apply to be registered as British citizens. In recognition of the fact that some may have learnt of the concession too late to benefit from it, we have removed the condition that the applicant must be under 18 on the date of the application. However, there are no plans to extend the option of registration to those born before 7 February 1961 as they could not, in any event, have benefited under the concession announced in 1979.