HC Deb 14 December 1950 vol 482 c1313
1. Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British subjects there are whose British assets are being withheld from them by the Custodian of Enemy Property; and for what reasons.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I regret that information as to the number of British subjects whose assets are still under control of the Custodian of Enemy Property is not available. The assets of a British subject resident in enemy territory who has no other nationality are released from control. But the assets of British subjects who have acquired an enemy nationality are only released in the case of British born wives who have regained British nationality and have returned to the United Kingdom for permanent residence.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

Will the right hon. Gentleman give earnest consideration to the difficult position of some British subjects who feel that they have been deprived of their right under the British Nationality Act and who wish to spend, as far as they are allowed to, their own money in their native land?

Mr. Wilson

I have given very careful consideration to this matter, but it is governed by the Act. If anything can be done within the Act, we are prepared to consider it.