HC Deb 14 February 1939 vol 343 cc1556-7
79. Sir R. Blair

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the advisability of the extension of the operation of the Summary Jurisdiction (Process) Act, 1881, to Eire so as to cover the cases where summonses are granted in England under the provisions of the Bastardy Laws Amendment Act and Affiliation Orders Act, 1914, upon the application of a single woman to affiliate her child born in this country and enable such a summons to be served upon the alleged father resident in Eire?

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

The facilities which my hon. Friend desires could not be provided merely by an extension of the Summary Jurisdiction (Process) Act, 1881. Special legislation would be necesary, both in England and in Eire. Schemes for enabling the mother of an illegitimate child to obtain an affiliation order against a father who has left the country deserve sympathetic consideration. Such schemes involve practical questions of considerable difficulty, but the matter has been noted for consideration when an opportunity occurs.

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