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Debtor's Statement (Racial Description)

Volume 389: debated on Tuesday 18 May 1943

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asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the summary of a debtor's statement of affairs, a copy of which has been sent him, in which the debtor is described as a Jew, aged 41 years; and whether he will take steps to prevent the unnecessary introduction into official documents of discriminatory labels of a racial or religious kind?

I have seen the document to which my hon. Friend refers. The description of the debtor is based on a written statement made by him, and I am assured by the official responsible that, so far from desiring to create any prejudice against the debtor, this description was intended to help to remove any misunderstanding among his creditors as to the reason for the debtor's financial misfortunes in Germany. I have, however, given instructions that unnecessary racial descriptions are not to be inserted in statements of this kind in the future.