§ 7. Mr. A. R. KENNEDYasked the Home. Secretary the number of outstanding applications for naturalisation; the number of applications dealt with in 1925; and the number of the staff of the Departments dealing with such applications; and whether he proposes to take any steps to secure that such applications shall he dealt with without unreasonable delay?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe number of applications received during the last four years was 5,404, and during the same period 4,62.6 were disposed of by grants or refusals. To the balance must he added a considerable number submitted in earlier years which had not been dealt with for one reason or another, but I cannot say how many can properly be regarded as now outstanding. The number disposed of in 1925 was 1,340. The Home Office staff dealing with applications for naturalisation normally numbers 16, but only a part of their time is spent on this work, the amount varying according to the demands of other business; and I am 1355 not able, having regard to the need for economy, to increase the staff. Moreover, in a proportion of cases postponement depends on other considerations, and would not he affected by an increase of staff.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it still the policy of the Home Office deliberately to delay these cases in order not to naturalise too speedily otherwise respectable people?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo; there is not the slightest foundation for that. If I may say so, I think what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind is that, in the past at all events, it has been the practice, when it was not thought desirable to naturalise a man, simply to let the matter slide rather than give a definite refusal. I am adopting the principle, which I think is fairer, of saying at once that I am not prepared to naturalise.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre we to understand that slowness of naturalisation is not due to lack of staff, but to lack of good will?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo. In the first place, I dispute entirely that there is slowness of naturalisation. It has gone up. If the right hon. Gentleman will look at the figures, he will see that that is so.
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINIs any preference given to wives who wish to be naturalised as English'
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSOf course, that is one of the considerations which have to be borne in mind among many others that have to be considered.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLWill my right hon. Friend take care to continue on the same lines which he has been following, and inquire most carefully into all these cases before he agrees to naturalise?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSEvery case is most carefully inquired into, and a full report is made.