§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what publicity was and is being given to the new regulations as from 1 April for the payment of fees for registration and naturalisation;
(2) why the increased fees for applications for registration and naturalisation are paid at the time of application rather then when a decision is reached; and if he will reconsider this practice.
§ Mr. RaisonThe changes were announced in an answer given to a question from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for South Fylde (Mr. Gardner) on 10 March and a news release was issued by the Home Office on the same day. This contained a table showing the main types of application and the new fees. Both the announcment and the news release explained that the collection of the fee at the time of application enabled the increases to be kept to a lower level than would otherwise be necessary. Community Relations Councils were informed of the changes on 11 March. Leaflets setting out the new fees are made available to all new applicants.—[Vol. 19, c.423]