HC Deb 28 February 1946 vol 419 cc417-8W
Mr. Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made with the naturalisation of aliens, and, particularly with the list of 40 merchant seamen sent to him by the secretary of the Seafarers' Benefit Insurance Company, Limited, Cardiff, many months ago, who has, so far, not received acknowledgment of his letters.

Mr. Ede

As regards pre-1940 applications, I would refer to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend's Question on 22nd November, 1945. I regret that that reply was not brought specially to the notice 0f the secretary of the seafarers Benefit Insurance Company. As regards later applications, service on British merchant ships during the war will stand on the same footing as other forms of war service and I am arranging to supply to-the Mercantile Marine Offices at an early date forms on which claims for priority on this ground can be made.