§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the public feeling which has been evidenced, inter alia, by resolutions of borough and district authorities that no person of enemy alien birth, whether naturalised or unnaturalised, should have any right whatever to vote at Parliamentary or local government elections, and should be disabled from being elected to Parliament or holding any public office, and that the requisite legislation should be passed under which all such persons will automatically come off the register; and whether he will consider the desirability of meeting the public demand by introducing and passing legislation during the present Session?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have received a number of these resolutions. Un-naturalised persons of enemy alien birth can neither vote nor sit in Parliament, and as far as the resolutions refer to them they are obviously misconceived. As regards naturalised persons similar proposals were made in this House during the passage of the Representation of the People Bill last year, and in the other 933W House during the discussion on the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Bill this year, and were negatived in both oases. In the circumstances the Government would not feel justified in asking Parliament to again consider these proposals in the present Session.