§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this be the Second Schedule to the Bill."
§ 11.0 p.m.
§ Mr. FosterI want to ask the Attorney-General one question on this Schedule. This Schedule provides that where a British subject has citizenship
a child born to him … shall, … become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, … if and when the father becomes, or would but for his death have become, such a citizen;I am not quite certain what will happen to the child before the Dominion to which the father belongs passes the requisite citizenship law. In other words, assuming a man is a potential citizen of Australia, what happens to his child during the time that Australia is passing its Citizenship Bill? What I cannot quite make out is whether the child is a British subject. It seems to me that that is not so, because the child is waiting for the Australians to pass the citizenship law. It seems to me that during that time the child is not a British subject, and when Australia passes the citizenship law, the father does not become an Australian citizen, and the child then becomes a United Kingdom citizen.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI think the hon. Member is right. The child could be registered, of course, as a British subject, but I think that, apart from registration, his status is in suspense during that period. I will consider the point between now and the Report stage, but probably the provision in regard to registration is sufficient.