§ "The following Section shall be substituted for Section ten of the principal Act which relates to the national status of married women:
- 10. (1) A woman who is a British subject shall, notwithstanding her marriage to an alien, remain a British subject unless she makes a declaration of alienage and thereupon she shall cease to be a British subject and shall become an alien.
- (2) A woman who is an alien shall, notwithstanding her marriage to a British subject, remain an alien unless she makes a declaration that she desires to be a British subject, and thereupon the Secretary of State may grant a certificate of naturalisation without requiring her to comply with the condition of residence or other conditions necessary for naturalisation in other cases.
- (3) When a man ceases during the continuance of his marriage to be a British subject it shall be lawful for his wife to make a declaration
1188 that she desires to retain British nationality, and thereupon she shall be deemed to remain a British subject."—[Sir W. Dickinson.]
§ Brought up, and read the first time.
§ Sir W. DICKINSONI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."
I recognise that a late hour is not a suitable hour at which to discuss this question, and I am sorry I have not a full opportunity of laying this case before the Committee. I put the Clause down because I want to get consideration of the question. I venture to submit to the right hon. Gentleman that if he is going to have this matter investigated he ought to have it investigated by a Committee that is not a committee of experts. I understood the Home Secretary on the Second Reading to say that he proposed to have the whole question of nationality referred to a committee of experts, and I hope he will consider very carefully whether it ought not to be considered by a much larger Committee, especially with regard to the question of the position of women. That question has never yet been properly dealt with. The women have petitioned. I believe the Home Secretary has been asked to receive a deputation on the subject, and he has refused. I am told that they applied to the Imperial Conference to be allowed to send a deputation and that they were refused, and they have never yet had a proper opportunity of putting their views on this question before a tribunal. I hope, however, as the right hon. Gentleman said he will have an inquiry, it will be one at which all views can be received and adjudicated upon.
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSIt is quite impossible to deal adequately with this Clause at this time of night. The House is tired, and I think we ought to meet the convenience of the House, but I venture to suggest to my right hon. Friend that if he will put this Clause down for the Report stage it would have a much better opportunity of consideration by the House.
§ Question put and negatived.