HL Deb 04 March 1947 vol 146 cc100-1WA
LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL

asked His Majesty's Government, when it is proposed, in view of the very large number of applications from British soldiers in Germany to marry German wives, to introduce legislation to prevent such women from obtaining thereby British nationality?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I am not at present in a position to say when it may be possible for the Government to introduce legislation to amend the nationality law. As was announced on August 1, one of the changes which it is proposed to embody in amending legislation is a provision that a foreign woman on marriage to a British subject shall not automatically acquire British nationality, but shall have the right to apply for it subject to the exercise by the Secretary of State of a discretion as to the grant or refusal of the application. It is not con- templated that a foreign woman contracting a bona fide marriage with a British subject would be refused naturalization solely on the ground that she possessed some particular nationality of origin.