§ 31. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for War if he will describe the present restrictions on the enlistment of foreigners; when these regulations were laid down; and if he will now propose new regulations to allow a larger number of foreigners to enlist in the Army, in view of the fact that the number of refugees who do not hold British citizenship is now so much larger compared with that at the date when the present limit was imposed.
§ Mr. HeadWhile Defence (Armed Forces) Regulation No. 2 of 1939 remains in force there is no statutory bar to the enlistment of aliens, but when the regulation lapses, later this month, the enlistment of aliens will be governed entirely 1271 by the Army Act, Section 95. The restrictive provision in that Section dates from 1837. The Select Committee on the Army and Air Force Acts has recently recommended that this Section should be drafted on more liberal lines.
§ Major BeamishDoes not my right hon. Friend think it is time to make some further move in this matter? Is he aware that there are very large numbers of young foreigners of military age who might be prepared to volunteer for the Army were they given encouragement?