§ 27. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the procedure and prerequisites necessary to enable a foreigner to secure naturalisation.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)An applicant for naturalisation must have the qualifications laid down in the British Nationality Act, 1948. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the instructions which set out the procedure for submitting applications.
§ Sir W. SmithersIn view of the increasing menace to this country of Communist infiltration will the Home Secretary tighten up procedure? May I write to him again after I have read the pamphlet he is sending me?
§ Mr. EdeI do not accept the premise outlined in that supplementary question, but I am always happy to receive communications from the hon. Gentleman.
Mr. G. WilliamCan the Minister tell us how long it takes before a German can be naturalised, because Germans are still bound to work in agriculture until they can get their naturalisation through?
§ Mr. Langford-HoltCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us how long this naturalisation procedure is taking at present, because there was serious delay at one time?
§ Mr. EdeThat delay disappeared about a couple of years ago. Now the procedure goes through quite normally, and does not take long. I should think that most applications can be dealt with within six months of being received.
§ 34. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Special Branch of Scotland Yard to submit a report to him on all persons applying for naturalisation and their sponsors.
§ Mr. EdeI see no need for any change in the present arrangements, under which detailed reports on applications are furnished by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis where the applicant lives in London and by the local chief officer of police where the applicant lives elsewhere.
§ Sir W. SmithersAre these reports sent to the Home Secretary personally? Why will the right hon. Gentleman not tighten up the regulations? When will the Government realise the real danger of Communism in this country?
§ Mr. EdeThe reports are sent to the appropriate officers of my Department. All cases which involve any doubt come to me personally. I think that the strength of Communism in this country can rightly be judged by the votes polled 1345 by Communist candidates at the General Election.
§ 38. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken from a security point of view to ensure that the 100,000 aliens who came to this country in the last five years were not of a type likely to take action damaging to this country.
§ Mr. EdeThe aliens admitted to this country for residence during the last five years were subject to a security check. It would not be in the public interest to give details of the measures taken.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Home Secretary aware that he is under a major delusion if he thinks that the loss of seats to the Communists in this House has weakened the Communist effort? They are working harder than ever underground.
§ Sir W. SmithersNo.
§ Mr. Ede—as the hon. Member, and I do not think that his exaggerated fears are justified by the facts.
§ Mr. PannellIs the Home Secretary aware that the efforts of the Communist Party resulted in at least four more seats for the other side at the General Election?