§ Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he now proposes to take to help mothers born in the United Kingdom who cannot transmit citizenship to their children born overseas in the way that men can; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe registration of minor children as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies under section 7(1)204W of the British Nationality Act 1948 is at my discretion. I have decided to make some alterations to the general policy in dealing with applications by women who were born in the United Kingdom and whose children born overseas are still minors. The practice hitherto has been to refuse registration if it appeared that the child was likely to live overseas or if, when the child was living in this country, the father had taken no steps to seek our citizenship for himself.
In future, registration will not be refused on those grounds and a woman born in the United Kingdom will normally be able to have her child registered, subject to there being no well founded objection by the father—as there could be, for example, if registration would deprive the child of his or her existing citizenship. The notes for the guidance of intending applicants will be suitably amended.
The whole question of transmission of citizenship in the female line will be a matter to be dealt with in future nationality legislation.