HC Deb 07 July 1997 vol 297 cc607-8
15. Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to give reasons for the refusal of an application for British citizenship. [5521]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

As I explained in reply to a question from my hon. Friend on 21 May at column 77, we are reviewing our practice with regard to giving reasons for decisions on applications for British citizenship.

Mr. Prentice

I find that encouraging. To help my hon. Friend with his deliberations, may I remind him of the terrible injustice that has been done to Mohammed Al Fayed, who has been in this country for 30 years, has no criminal record and was refused citizenship by the previous Administration out of political spite without being given reasons? Is it not a terrible paradox that the main accuser of the liar and cheat Neil Hamilton is deemed unfit for British citizenship and we are allowing that situation to continue without the man being given reasons for the decision? May I urge my hon. Friend to examine those matters in great detail?

Mr. O'Brien

Those matters are currently before the Judicial Committee in another place. It would be wrong for me to delve too far into the issues until the Committee has had the opportunity to give its view on the way in which justice was delivered, or not, in this particular case.

Mr. Sayeed

If Mr. Al Fayed has been offering inducements to Members of Parliament to act improperly, does the Minister think him a fit and proper person to receive Britain citizenship?

Mr. O'Brien

These are all issues which, in due course, may have to be taken into consideration if an application is made by Mr. Al Fayed subsequent to the House of Lords judgment. Until those matters are before us, it is better that Ministers do not reach judgments before they are obliged to in such circumstances.