§ Mr. Goldieasked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed, in the interests of national safety, to suspend the naturalisation of aliens until the termination of the present hostilities?
§ Sir J. AndersonNaturalisation is not granted to any person about whose loyalty to this country any doubt exists, and my hon. and learned Friend can be assured that in dealing with such applications the interests of national security are a paramount consideration. The impossibility in present circumstances of devoting time and labour to the necessary investigations would in itself have led to a very great reduction in the number of applications 777W disposed of. There are, however, some applications—including applications from British-born women—which it is in the public interest to investigate and, if the inquiries are completely satisfactory, to grant.
§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Home Secretary how many Germans are employed as paid and unpaid air-raid wardens, respectively, in Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Greenock, respectively; and whether he has any statement to make regarding their future employment or disposal?
§ Sir J. AndersonMy information is that there was only one German national serving as a warden in Scotland. He was enrolled for part-time service, but he has now been interned.