§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to alter the present situation in which a child born abroad out of wedlock cannot have British nationality even if born to British parents; and if he will institute the immediate reform that an illegitimate child should be able to take British nationality from its mother.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe present law does provide for acquisition of citizenship by such children in some circumstances. A child, whose mother was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies at the time of his birth, and who is and always has been Stateless, is entitled, whether he is legitimate or illegitimate, to be registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies under section 1(1)(a) of the British Nationality (No. 2) Act 1964.
aspects of our nationality law are being re-examined following the publication of the Green Paper on nationality law—Cmnd. 6795. I cannot forecast when it will be possible to introduce legislation.