Lords Sitting of 1 August 1946

Preamble
The House met at a quarter before four of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers.

  NATIONALITY OF MARRIED WOMEN.
  VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: My Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government a question of which I have given private notice: whether they have any statement to make with regard to the law relating to the nationality of married women.
  THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS (VISCOUNT ADDISON): My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for asking me this question, and I am glad to inform the House that agreement has now been reached between the United Kingdom Government and the Governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as to the principles on which legislation governing the nationality of married women should be based. The principles accepted by the five Governments are that the law should provide in effect that a British woman on marriage to a foreigner, whether she does or does not acquire his nationality under the law of his country, shall not lose her British nationality unless she takes some active step to renounce it; and that a foreign woman on marriage to a British subject shall not automatically acquire British nationality, but shall have the right to apply for it, subject to the exercise by the Minister concerned of a discretion as to the grant or refusal of the application.
  It is contemplated that a conference of experts should be convened later this year to examine various questions affecting nationality law in the several countries of the Commonwealth. This conference will afford an opportunity of considering the detailed provisions required for effecting the changes now agreed upon in the law relating to the nationality of married women.

CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) BILL.
Brought from the Commons, endorsed with a Certificate from the Speaker that the Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act, 1911, and read 1ª.
Then, Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended (pursuant to the Resolution of July 15), Bill read 2ª; Committee negatived; Bill read 3ª, and passed.

BROMBOROUGH DOCK BILL. [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons, agreed to with an Amendment; the said Amendment considered and agreed to.
WEST YORKSHIRE GAS DISTRIBUTION BILL. [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons, agreed to with Amendments; the said Amendments considered and agreed to.

PUBLIC NOTARIES (WAR SERVICE OF ARTICLED CLERKS) BILL. [H.L.]
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD JOWITT): My Lords, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to modify the requirements of the enactments relating to public notaries with respect to articled clerks who have been engaged in war service, and to move that the Bill be read a first time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 1ª.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Bill read 1ª, and to be printed.

DANISH CONSULATE IN FLENSBURG.
VISCOUNT LONG: My Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.
[The question was as follows:
To ask His Majesty's Government when it is proposed to acknowledge the existing Danish de facto Consul in Flensburg, and further, whether full Consulate privileges, including the flying of his national flag, are being granted.]
VISCOUNT ADDISON: The United Nations principally concerned, of which Denmark is one, are represented in Germany by military missions attached to the Allied Control Council. There are also a Danish Liaison Mission in the British zone, and a Danish liaison officer at Flensburg, to whom the British authorities are glad to give every facility for representing Danish interests. So far as His Majesty's Government are at present aware, the Danish Government have not been pressing for the grant of normal consular status to any of their officials in Germany. In the special circumstances existing in Germany it has hitherto been felt that the military mission and liaison officers provided an equally satisfactory form of representation. In the short time available it has not been possible to ascertain definitely whether members of the foreign military missions and liaison missions in Germany can fly their national flags.
VISCOUNT LONG: My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for his reply. May I ask him whether he will continue to try to find out the position, as it will give great satisfaction to Denmark if such a request can be granted?
VISCOUNT ADDISON: Yes. I will certainly follow up the matter, and I will communicate with the noble Viscount as to the information I receive.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The following Bills received the Royal Assent:

Finance.

Appropriation.

Diplomatic Privileges (Extension).

National Insurance.

New Towns.

Isle of Man (Customs).

Civil Aviation.

1238

Campbeltown Water, etc., Order Confirmation.

Derby Corporation (Trolley Vehicles) Order Confirmation.

Ipswich Corporation (Trolley Vehicles) Order Confirmation.

Maidstone Corporation (Trolley Vehicles) Order Confirmation.

Reading Corporation (Trolley Vehicles) Order Confirmation.

Long Eaton Urban District Council.

High Wycombe Corporation.

Cardiff Corporation.

Birmingham Corporation.

Tees Conservancy.

Rotherham Corporation.

Bromborough Dock.

West Yorkshire Gas Distribution.

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.