§ 2. Mr. William Priceasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he intends to make in relation to the children of former aliens who wish to join the Armed Services.
§ The Minister of Defence for Administration (Mr. G. W. Reynolds)The reasons for the present rules were stated by my hon. Friend in the Adjournment debate on 21st October last, and I have no proposals for changing them.
§ Mr. PriceI appreciate that some safeguards are necessary and desirable, but does not my hon. Friend agree that in the case of children of families which once had connections with Communist States those rules are working harshly, especially when those families make it clear that they are totally out of sympathy with these régimes?
§ Mr. ReynoldsThere is provision for individual cases, where the nationality rules are not complied with, to be reviewed by the Minister concerned. Such cases are reviewed with all possible sympathy, but we have to bear in mind the security aspect and also the fact that a restricted career may not be for the good of the individual.