§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the anomalies under the British Nationality Act, 1948, whereby children born of United Kingdom Service personnel previously serving overseas may be thereby deprived of full rights of British nationality and citizenship; and whether he will make a statement on the need for, and his policy towards, a change in the present law, so that the children of former and present Service personnel are not penalised in this way in the future.
§ Mr. George ThomasThe British Nationality Act, 1948, as subsequently amended, makes provision for the acquisition of citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by the great majority of persons horn whether before or after the coming into force of the Act to British fathers in Crown Service. There are however some cases where the interaction of United Kingdom and Commonwealth or Irish nationality legislation has resulted in the child becoming a citizen of a Commonwealth country or of the Irish Republic or (where the birth occurred in former British India) a British subject without citizenship. The Act contains provision for such persons to acquire citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies provided certain conditions are met, and my right hon. and learned Friend is not satisfied that there is a need for further legislation. I shall be writing further to my hon. Friend about a specific case which he has raised.