HC Deb 15 March 1939 vol 345 cc387-8
20. Sir Arnold Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Air what regulations are in existence prohibiting the enlistment in the Royal Air Force of British subjects not born and bred in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland one of whose parents or grandparents is non-Aryan?

Sir K. Wood

The regulations for enlistment into the Royal Air Force provide that an applicant must be of pure European descent. He must be a British subject and the son of parents both of whom are (or, if deceased, were at the time of death) British subjects. Provided that these rules are satisfied, the place of birth is immaterial. The regulations contain no reference to Aryan or non-Aryan parentage or descent.

Sir A. Wilson

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there are in the British Colonies a very large number of persons who are fully British subjects but not of completely European descent, and that they would be a great source of strength to the armed forces of the Crown if we were able to make adequate use of them?