§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary the number of naturalised German and Austrian subjects who have been allowed to change their names under deed poll since 1st August, 1914; is he aware that in some cases the change of name has been used for commercial purposes; and can he suspend permission for naturalised German and Austrian subjects to change their names until after the War or forbid such change being used for commercial or business purposes?
Mr. SAMUELThe only power that exists in regard to changes of name is that which prohibits such change by alien enemies. I have no information with regard to changes of name by British subjects, and on this point I can only refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the question by the hon. Member for the Baling Division on the 17th April, and to the answers given by myself and my predecessors to many previous questions on this subject. I would take the opportunity of referring to a report which has appeared in the Press of observations alleged to have been made at the Old Bailey on the 2nd instant by the Recorder of the City of London. He is reported to have said that "the Government allowed persons of German nationality to change their names," and again "that Germans were allowed to change their names under a deed poll, and that that was being done extensively all over the country." The reported statements do not represent the facts. Persons of German nationality have been prohibited under penalty since the 12th October, 1914, from changing their names; and no facts have been brought to my knowledge to suggest that this prohibition is not being strictly 685W enforced throughout the country. Exemption from this prohibition may be granted by the Secretary of State, but it has been granted only in a very few cases where special circumstances existed. The total number is twelve, and almost all of them are cases of British-born women, German by marriage only, and now widows or separated from their husbands.