Britain could be on the verge of granting full citizenship rights to its remaining Dependent Territories, it was revealed yesterday.

The news came after UK Foreign Office Junior Minister Baroness Symons gave a written submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs on the massive re-write of Britain's relations with its remaining Dependent Territories.

She confirmed: "There is great interest in full UK citizenship in those territories which do not have it, or where it is not at present an option.'' Baroness Symons added that UK citizenship would give the 160,000 people involved the right to live and work in Britain.

But -- in what has been interpreted as a clear signal of intent -- she told the Committee that she did not personally believe large numbers would immediately try to move to the UK.

The full text of Baroness Symons' submission will not be revealed until the final report of the review team is published.

But UK House of Commons insiders yesterday told The Royal Gazette that it was the clearest signal so far that Britain was prepared to bite the bullet on full rights for the dozen or so Dependent Territories.

One, with experience in foreign affairs, said: "It's an interesting choice of issue to be made public.

"It seems that it's certainly being actively considered, which is good news for the people involved.

"This is one way that they can test the water without actually jumping in feet first.

"But I think it strikes a very promising note and I suspect that they may be considering an end to an anomaly which has dogged relations between Britain and its overseas territories for years.'' Another expert said: "I would agree it's significant -- what exactly it means I don't know.

"But it could be a bit of kite-flying just to test reaction.'' When the UK Labour Party's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook announced the review of relations earlier this year, Premier Pamela Gordon said one important issue was was the granting of the same rights as the British-born and EU citizens -- "a passport that means something.'' And Baroness Symons' statement could open the way for young Bermudians to be educated in the UK -- at the same fee rates as British-born students -- and with no restrictions on gaining work experience in the UK afterwards.

And those already in the working world could transfer freely between the the two countries to broaden their experience and increase their marketability at home.

Ms Gordon and Deputy Premier Jerome Dill were yesterday off the Island and not available for comment.

But Acting Premier Quinton Edness said: "Bermuda would be thrilled by such a decision.'' Mr. Edness added: "I should say it's the Premier who has been handling this thing, but I can say in her absence that if the British Government was to offer citizenship, where Bermudians could live and work in Britain as an option, that would please many, many Bermudians.

"Something like this would assist a small Country like us a great deal.

Baroness Symons' comments are very, very promising.'' Opposition leader Jennifer Smith said she would also welcome a loosening of restrictions on Bermudians' right of entry to Britain.

Bermudians may get UK citizenship She said: "I would imagine it would certainly be good news for a number of our students and people who want to pursue a career in the financial world and other areas.'' Britain gave full rights to Falkland Islanders after the 1982 battle to eject Argentinian invaders who claimed sovereign rights over the South Atlantic territory.

And people living in Gibraltar -- a peninsula on the southern coast of Spain long-claimed by the Spanish -- have full rights due to its membership of the European Union.

But residents in territories like Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos hold only UK passports endorsed British Dependent Territories Citizen -- which allows them far fewer rights in Britain than EU passport holders like the Germans and the French.