§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to enable South African citizens, who can satisfy Her Majesty's authorities that they intend to reside permanently in Great Britain, to become British subjects before 31st May, 1961, the day on which South Africa becomes a republic, so as to enable them to maintain an unbroken tie with the Crown as subjects of the monarchy.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerUnder Section 6 (1) of the British Nationality Act, 1948, any citizen of South Africa is entitled to be registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies on satisfying the Secretary of State that he is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and has been so resident throughout the 12 months immediately preceding his application. Section 12 (6) of that Act, as revived and extended by Section 3 (1) of the British Nationality Act, 1958, empowers the Secretary of State to register a citizen of South Africa who satisfies the Secretary of State that he is descended in the male line from a person born or naturalised in the United Kingdom and Colonies or born within what is now the Republic of Ireland, and that he intends to make his ordinary place of residence within the United Kingdom and Colonies, if it seems to the Secretary of State fitting that that person should by reason of his close connection with the United Kingdom and Colonies become a citizen thereof.