§ 43. Mr. KILEYasked the Home Secretary the number of applications for naturalisation which have been in his Department for more than 12 months: 1711 and is he prepared to consider the advisability of increasing the staff in order to deal forthwith with cases where the applicants are heads of families, clergymen, or doctors, where it is shown that they have been in this country for 20 years or more and are of good repute?
§ Mr. SHORTTI would refer the hon. Member to the figures contained in my reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. M. Jones) on the 13th instant. I do not feel justified, in existing circumstances, in increasing the staff of my Department for the purpose of dealing with this work.
§ Mr. KILEYIs there any special reason why people who have lived in this country for 20 years cannot have their applications considered?
§ Mr. SHORTTThey are being considered as rapidly as possible with the limited staff at our disposal.
§ Mr. KILEYDo not these people pay a large sum of money for their naturalisation, which more than covers the expense, and could not a staff be engaged?
§ Mr. SHORTTIt does not cover the expense at all.