§ 13. Sir Ronald Rossasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what particulars the application form for a passport by British subjects who have been born in the Irish Republic has been amended.
§ Mr. BevinSince 1st January, 1949, Section 4 of the passport application form has required applicants born outside the United Kingdom and colonies to give particulars of their fathers' birth. This section has, however, often been misunderstood by persons born in Southern Ireland and the wording of the Section has accordingly been clarified. The amended form, which will come into use shortly, leaves no doubt that it applies to persons born in Southern Ireland. Where an applicant born in Southern Ireland states that his father was born in what is now the United Kingdom or a colony, a passport will be issued describing him as a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies.
§ Sir R. RossMay I take it that this new form abolishes the suggestions that British subjects by birth who have always lived under the Union Jack are now subjects of Eire, which was very offensive to some of them?