§ 57. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the number of persons who change their names and to the number of persons who object to the appropriation of their surnames by other people; and whether he will consider taxation both ways, so that anyone registering his name on payment of a fixed fee can prevent another person, during his lifetime, taking that name by deed poll without his permission, and 1665 anyone wishing to appropriate a new name other than a registered one should pay a substantial sum for the privilege?
§ Captain HACKINGI have been asked to reply. The object which my hon. and gallant Friend has in view could only be attained by legislation which would involve a radical change in the law relating to surnames. Even if such a change were desirable, I do not think it could be effected on the lines suggested in the Question.