HC Deb 16 July 1914 vol 64 cc2133-4W
Major ARCHER-SHREE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, with reference to the application of Phillip Bendal for a certificate of naturalisation received at the Home Office on 18th April, 1914, and replied to on 3rd June, to the effect that his application had been refused, he can say what were the grounds of that refusal, in view of the fact that Mr. Bendal has lived the greater part of his life in England and South Africa and served for two years in the Hospital Corps in the South African war, that he is at present a member of the National Reserve, and that his brother is also naturalized?

Mr. McKENNA

I am sorry that in this, as in many other cases, I cannot undertake to state the grounds of my decision. The Naturalisation Act expressly provides that the Secretary of State may, with or without assigning any reason, give or withhold a certificate of naturalisation as he thinks most conducive to the public good.