§ 10. Mr. Norman Bowerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in future, he will publish the names of sponsors of candidates for naturalisation.
§ 6. Mr. Martin Lindsayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the names of those who sponsored Dr. Fuchs for British nationalisation.
§ Mr. EdeThere is no statutory requirement that an application for naturalisation should be supported by sponsors and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the publication of the names of the persons who, in fact, support the applicant. The assumptions underlying these questions seem to be that great weight is attached to the standing of the sponsors and that the Secretary of State has to rely to a large extent on the information supplied by them. In fact, the most careful inquiries are made through the police and by other means and where necessary other Government Departments are consulted before he reaches his decision. No application would be granted merely on the recommendation of sponsors however distinguished.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettOn a point of Order. May I, with all the humility due from a new Member, ask you, Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 6 is in Order, as I have no reason to understand that the Government ever intended to "nationalise" Dr. Fuchs?
§ Mr. SpeakerQuestion No. 6 was answered with Question No. 10.