§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the instances of injustice referred to in the Interim Report of the Committee appointed by his Department to advise upon applications for the release of property of ex-enemy aliens in necessitous circumstances; whether certain of such instances are consequent upon difficulties presented by the uncertain and, in many cases, conflicting municipal laws of different countries for determining nationality; whether he is aware that the amendment of the law forms the subject of an inquiry now proceeding before a committee of the International Law Association appointed by that body at the Hague Congress of last year; and whether, having regard to the expediency of placing nationality upon a definite and uniform basis in all civilised countries, he will recommend the setting up of a Select Committee for the further and better examination of the question, to consider the expediency of proceeding with the Bill presented to this House by the Home Secretary to amend the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act,
400Wmore important classes employed in his Department?
§ Mr. PEASEThe wages at the means of the adult scales of the principal manipulative classes of the Post Office are as follow:
1914 and 1918, as regards the acquisition of British nationality by persons born out of His Majesty's Dominions, and submitting to Parliament a Bill commensurate with present day requirements comprehensively dealing with the subject?
§ Mr. SHORTTMy attention has been drawn to this Report. I am aware that the nationality laws of different countries are not all based on the same principles, and this circumstance, more particularly in the situation created by the War, has given rise to cases of hardship such as those referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. As regards the third point raised in the question. I understand that such a committee was appointed, but I have no information as to the scope of its deliberations. I am not, as at present advised, prepared to recommend the appointment of a Select Committee for the purpose indicated in the last part of the question.