§ Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a young man of dual nationality who appeared on the 5th October before the West London County Court as a conscientious objector; and whether he will give an assurance that he will not be allowed to opt for British citizenship on attaining the age of 21?
§ Sir J. AndersonPresumably my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the provisions of the law which enable a British subject in certain circumstances to divest himself of British nationality by making a declaration of alienage when he attains the age of 21. There is no power, however, to compel a British subject to make such a declaration.
§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Minister of Labour whether he has given further consideration to the case of dental and medical students who are covered by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and who, on being in the classes called up under the National Service (Armed Forces) 1214W Act, 1939, apply to be placed on the conscientious objectors register and for special reason desire postponement of consideration of their application; and whether he will exercise his discretion under Article 13 (1) of the National Service (Armed Forces) Miscellaneous Regulations, 1939?
§ Mr. E. BrownIt is proposed to exercise the power given by Regulation 13 (1) of the National Service (Armed Forces) (Miscellaneous) Regulations so as to allow any person who has provisionally registered as a conscientious objector and is covered by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations to postpone his application to the local tribunal under Section 5 (3) of the Act as long as he remains so covered. Dental, medical and pharmacy students who have reached a certain stage in their courses of study fall into this category.