HC Deb 09 July 1956 vol 556 cc27-8
39. Mr. Peyton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, under his regulations, a person born of British parents in a territory at that time under British sovereignty is required, having already held a British passport, to produce not only his own birth certificate but the birth certificate and/or passport of his father and the marriage certificate of his parents in order to obtain a new British passport on the expiry of the previous one.

Lord John Hope

By the British Nationality Act, 1948, a person, who was a British subject immediately before the commencement of the Act and who was born outside the United Kingdom and Colonies, is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies if his father was a British subject and possessed certain qualifications specified in Section 12 of the Act. In these cases, the claim to citizenship depends upon legitimate descent from a father possessing the required qualifications. It is, therefore, necessary to produce evidence in the form of the documents mentioned by the honourable Member.

Mr. Peyton

Does not my noble Friend think that there is something very wrong when someone who has once held a British passport should have that right arbitrarily removed from him? Will he please show no inhibitions whatever about introducing legislation to amend what seems to be yet another lamentable Act for which hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite are responsible?

Lord John Hope

I hope that I shall show no inhibitions about anything reasonable, but if the hon. Gentleman will read the Answer, he will see that it is not quite as easy as it looks. I wish that we could do something.

Mr. Younger

Am I right in thinking that if a person of the type mentioned failed to get a United Kingdom passport he would automatically get the passport of another self-governing member of the Commonwealth, and is that really so very humiliating?

Mr. Peyton

Is my hon. Friend aware that if someone has once held a United Kingdom passport he not unnaturally wishes to continue to hold it? It is neither here nor there for the right hon. Gentleman to suggest that the individual concerned should satisfy himself with an Indian passport.

Lord John Hope

I do not think that, in fact, I can be expected to be responsible for opinions in this matter. I have tried to answer the Question as far as my Department is responsible.