NEW CLAUSE.—(Records relating to British subjects.) (Hansard, 23 March 1948)

§ Mr. Manningham-Buller
I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."
This new Clause deals with records relating to British subjects, a subject we have not touched upon up to the present. It may be that this Clause is not necessary because necessary action has, in fact, been taken or will be taken prior to 15th May, but it is a matter which ought to be dealt with and cleared up. It would obviously cause a great deal of inconvenience, to say the least, if records relating to birth, death, marriage, and other matters, entered in a public register in Palestine in respect of any British subject, ceased to be available to a British subject after 15th May. It is a matter which I hope has been cleared up, so that a British subject will be able to have access, if not to the original registers, at least to copies of them in this country, or in some country under British control after that date. The same point applies with regard to any instrument dealing with 2952 the disposition of property on the death of a British subject. I do not think I need say more about it. I hope that we shall be told that this new Clause is not necessary, and that action to meet these points has been, or will be taken.

§ The Attorney-General
We think that this new Clause is not really necessary to achieve the object which the hon. and learned Member has in mind. So far as certificates relating to marriage are concerned, duplicate registers are at present kept at Somerset House, and they are admissible in evidence. So far as births and deaths are concerned, they are registered under the law of Palestine which, of course, covers all persons, whether of British nationality or not. It would not, therefore, be possible to remove them to this country; but certified copies are admissible in evidence here, and we are at the moment discussing with the High Commissioner the possibility of transferring a complete set of certified copies relating to British subjects. We are going to try to see whether we can deal with registrations of the transfer of property in the same way. This is a matter which we may be able to take a stage further by using an Order in Council under Clause 3 (4).

§ Mr. Manningham-Buller
In view of that information, which is satisfactory as far as it goes, although I hope it will be possible to take the matter further, before this Bill becomes an Act, by means of an Order in Council. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Motion.