Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 May 1947.
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
12:00,
13 May 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War why British troops who have made application to marry German nationals, under the six months qualifying regulation, are debarred from doing so after that period has expired by the new rules which were published on 14th April, 1947; and if he will remove this injustice.
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
My hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed. I presume he is referring to an Amendment to the regulations governing marriage in the Rhine Army to German nationals, which was issued by H.Q., Rhine Army on 3rd April, 1947. This amendment does not debar any man previously eligible from marrying, but removes a restriction that was previously in force under the regulations as they stood prior to 3rd April, 1947. There is, therefore, no question of any injustice having been done.
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
Will the Under-Secretary made it perfectly clear in the Amendment to the regulations which has been posted in stations?
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
It must he understood by now, although I imagine there was a temporary misunderstanding when the Amendment was first published.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
