§ Major NEWMANasked the Minister of National Service what efforts have been made to bring up to date the National Register, on which a large sum of public money was expended by one of the late Governments; have any penalties been imposed for failing to notify, as laid down, change of address; and is he aware of the value which could be made of the register in tracing and identifying individuals who may be endeavouring to escape their liabilities as citizens of this or other countries?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHER:My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The National Registration Act provided for the notification of changes of address by persons whose residences are altered otherwise than temporarily, and a very large number of changes have been notified. In some cases prosecutions have been instituted and penalties imposed for failure to notify. I am at the present time in correspondence with the Minister of National Service on the subject of possible changes in the present system.