§ 19. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the husbands whose wives are British citizens automatically have full citizenship rights immediately they marry.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Government's view, as set out in the White Paper on British nationality law, is that wives and husbands of British citizens should be treated equally in the way in which they may apply for citizenship; and that they should do so by applying for naturalisation, though after a three-year qualifying period instead of five years.
§ Mr. WigleyIs the Minister aware that there would be considerable disappointment and dismay if that equality was achieved by the downgrading of the rights that currently exist for wives? Will he give some indication as to the Government's thinking on the period of three years suggested in the White Paper and 612 on whether time already spent in the United Kingdom will qualify towards that three-year period?
§ Mr. RaisonOur proposal that the two sexes should be treated equally is fair, and that is widely seen to be so. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman with regard to the particular point that he raised.