§ 86. Mr. HAILWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average annual number of aliens who were naturalised as British subjects prior to the War; the numbers who have been dealt with in each of the two years since the Armistice; and the number of aliens whose applications are awaiting decisions?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)The average annual number of aliens naturalised during the ten years before the War, 1904–1913, was 963. The number naturalised in 1919 was 1,417, and in 1920, up to 30th November, 2,171. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer, to my reply on the 2nd instant to a similar question by the hon. Member for Central Portsmouth.
§ Mr. HAILWOODCan the right hon. Gentleman say if it is not a fact that some of these applicants have been waiting twelve months? Is this due to the large number of applicants or to the inefficiency of the staff dealing with them?
§ Mr. SHORTTThere are a large number of applicants awaiting their turn, and the staff is so small that I think some of them have waited more than twelve months.
Colonel BURNWill the right hon. Gentleman put some restriction upon the number of aliens who are coming into this country and supplanting our own men?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise.