Oral Answers to Questions — Aliens – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 19 Mehefin 1947.
Mr Arthur Symonds
, Cambridge
12:00,
19 Mehefin 1947
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, on humanitarian grounds, he will consider introducing legislation to amend the Adoption Acts to enable British subjects to adopt war orphans alien origin.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
As indicated in the reply I gave on 28th February, 1946, to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Mr. Rees-Williams) this question has been noted for consideration when there is an opportunity for amending legislation, but I am not in a position to hold out hope of legislation in the near future.
Mr Arthur Symonds
, Cambridge
In the meantime, what is the state of such children in this country? Will they remain stateless and parentless indefinitely?
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
No, Sir. Their nationality will depend on the nationality of their parents in the normal case.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
Could the same end not be achieved without legislation by allowing such children to be naturalised and get the British nationality of their intended adopted parents?
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
No, Sir. I am quite willing to consider that matter, but the naturalisation of infants is a matter of some complication.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
