§ (1) Sub-section (1) of Section seven of the principal Act (which provides for the notification of changes of address) shall have effect as if for the words "within twenty-eight days" there were substituted the words "within seven days," and for the purpose of the said Subsection any person registered under the principal Act at the date of the passing of this Act whose place of residence at that date does not correspond with his place of residence as specified in his certificate of registration shall be deemed to have changed his place of residence as on that date.
§ (2) Sub-section (2) of the said Section seven (which provides for the registration of unregistered persons arriving in the United Kingdom) shall have effect as if for the words "within twenty-eight days" there were substituted the words "within fourteen days," and for the 903 purpose of the said Sub-section any person who arrived in the United Kingdom before the date of the passing of this Act shall be deemed to have arrived in the United Kingdom as on that date.
§ Mr. KINGI beg to move, in Sub-section (1), to leave out the word "seven" ["within seven days"], and to insert instead thereof the word "twenty-one."
We have now come to the Clause which deals with an Amendment of Section 7 of the principal Act, and that provides for the notification of changes of address. My first Amendment deals with the proposal that a person changing his address shall now give notice within seven days instead of twenty-eight, as it used to be. Why the change? You give the person only that short time to notify his change of address. I drew attention to this matter on the Second Reading, and I do not seriously think that my argument, though it was referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary, was adequately met. There are a great many people who change their residence—
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Amendment made: Leave out the word "seven," and insert instead thereof the word "fourteen"—[Mr. King.]
§ Mr. KINGI beg to move, in Sub-section (2), to leave out the word "fourteen" ["within fourteen days"], and to insert instead thereof the word "twenty-one."
This relates to persons who come into this country. Previously these were allowed twenty-eight days to register: now it has been cut down to fourteen. I propose twenty-one. I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman will accept my proposal on this head, or whether he would prefer—
Mr. FISHERThe question is one of arrival in this country. It is desired that they should register within fourteen days. I cannot extend that period.
§ Mr. KINGI think there is something in what my right hon. Friend says. I will only make this suggestion: At the ports of entry now a good many formalities have to be gone through, and I would suggest 904 to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service that when persons enter this country now—and there cannot be very many—there are certain persons from our Colonies—they ought to have given to them when they come into this country a paper or notification stating what are their duties in respect of this registration. If that is done I certainly shall not object to the period being fourteen days, and I hope this suggestion will be adopted.
§ Mr. BECKThe matter Which has been referred to does come within our purview, and I will very carefully consider the hon. Member's suggestion, which seems to me a practical one.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.