§ 51. Mr. Collickasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a statement on the result of the discussions on the enforcement of affiliation orders made against United States servicemen; and what action he is taking.
§ 54. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many affiliation orders have been granted by the courts for the illegitimate children of the United States forces in this country; and what measures are in progress to get putative fathers to support their children.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI regret that no information is available about the number of affiliation orders made against members of the United States forces in this country. I am informed, however, by the United States Service authorities here that their records show that, during the period from 1948 up to the present, less than 1,000 inquiries have been received about illegitimate children and that in a substantial proportion of these cases the marriage of the parties has followed. As has already been announced, discussions with the United States authorities are in progress, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. CollickIs it not a fact that these discussions have been going on over a very long period? Why is it that the Home Secretary is so reluctant to tell us anything about the course of those negotiations?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI should like to inform the hon. Member that the importance and urgency of this matter are appreciated. The discussions are being pressed forward as quickly as possible, and as soon as I am in a position to make a statement I shall do so. After some of the figures which have been quoted, I am very much obliged to the hon. Member for affording me the opportunity of giving a corrective about the number of cases involved.
§ Mrs. MannIs it not the case that the figures submitted by the right hon. Gentleman are not our figures but those of the other side—the United States? Would it not be much more reassuring if we could carry out some research and get the figures for ourselves? A figure of 70,000 has been quoted, and if that were accurate it would be a most disgraceful and shocking state of affairs.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeA figure of 70,000 has been quoted, and that is, by any reasoned application, complete nonsense. The figures which I have quoted from 1948 to the present day show 1,000 inquiries as the maximum figure, and in, a number of those cases marriage resulted, which only shows how dangerous it is to have such exaggerated figures floating about.