Section 3 Late registration of birth for avoidance of statelessness.

The Secretary of State shall not withhold his permission under paragraph (b) of the proviso to section 5(1) of the principal Act for the registration of the birth of any person after the expiration of the period prescribed by that paragraph if it appears to him that that person is and always has been stateless and would have been a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by descent if his birth had been registered within that period.

The Secretary of State shall not withhold his permission under paragraph (b) of section 1(2) of the 6 & 7 Geo. 6. c. 14.British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1943 (as applied by section 17 of the principal Act) for the registration of the birth of any person if it appears to him that that person is and always has been stateless and would become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or a British subject without citizenship if his birth were registered in accordance with that paragraph.