§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Home Secretary whether an application was received for letters of naturalisation from I. C. Reynders on the 14th June, 1919; whether Mr. Reynders states in his application that he is a Dutch subject and has been resident in this country for 31 years; and if he will state when it is proposed to take Mr. Reynders' application into consideration?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answers to the first two paragraphs of the question are in the affirmative. The case will be taken in its proper turn and without avoidable delay.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Home Secretary the number of aliens resident in this country whose names are entered at the Home Office in respect of applications for letters of naturalisation; how many of these respectively represent persons belonging to countries who were friendly to us in the late War and enemies; and whether it is the practice of the Home Office to deal with the cases of friendly aliens first?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe number of outstanding applications for certificates of naturalisation is approximtely 13,000. Of these, 7,500 are from friendly aliens resident in this country, and the remaining 5,500 are from former enemy aliens, of whom a considerable number have no doubt left the United Kingdom. The applications from friendly aliens are being dealt with so far as possible in turn, while in regard to former enemy aliens the hon. Member is no doubt aware that they are inelligible for naturalisation until ten years after the termination of the War, with the very limited exceptions provided for in Section 3 (2) of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1918.
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§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that to qualify for membership of the Society of Authors and Composers, the Institute of Chemistry, and other learned bodies, it is requisite that the applicant should be of British nationality; and whether he will direct that memorials to the Home Office from friendly aliens who may seek to join such societies should be considered and determined within a reasonable period necessary to vouch the applicant's antecedents?
Mr. SHOTTI have no knowledge of the rules governing the admission of members of learned societies. But even if the allegation in the question is correct, that fact is not a sufficient reason for giving one set of applications priority, over other applications which are equally pressing and deserving.