§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been(a) accepted and (b) rejected for registration under the Nationality Act by month since January 1987.
§ Mr. RentonThe information is given in the table:
11W
Applications for Registration as a British Citizen Granted Refused 1957 January 3,316 186 February 4,835 235 March 5,313 206 April 2,529 303 May 3,361 245 June 4,089 253 July 4,030 260 August 3,278 213 September 3,605 274 October 3,642 295
Granted Refused November 3,933 226 41,931 2,696
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what income has been received, by month, since January 1987, for fees in respect of the Nationality Act 1982.
§ Mr. RentonFees received, net of refunds to unsuccessful applicants, were as follows:
1987 £ January 246,808 February 508,720 March 487,892 April 463,818 May 629,708 June 755,910 July 741,626 August 705,009 September 878,314 October 945,525 November 1,551,943 December 1,405,056 TOTAL 9,320,329
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions he is making for late applications for registration under the Nationality Act, due to Christmas post delays.
§ Mr. RentonThere is no discretion to extend beyond 31 December 1987 the deadline for receipt of registration applications under section 8 of the 1981 Act. There is discretion to extend the deadline for applications under section 7
in the special circumstances of any particular case".Reasons for delay will have to be considered in each case. But in general, for example, my right hon. Friend would expect to be able to exercise discretion in respect of any application under section 7 which was postmarked on or before 31 December 1987, irrespective of when it arrived.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice or assistance he is giving those people wishing to register for British citizenship under the Nationality Act 1981, who are either patients in psychiatric hospitals or otherwise disadvantaged, and unable to afford the registration fees, in order that they should not be denied the right of application through lack of money.
§ Mr. RentonSection 42(1) of the British Nationaity Act precludes registration as a British citizen if the prescribed fee has not been paid. The Government believe that those who wish to become British citizens should pay the cost of processing their applications. Concessions to one group would mean increased costs for others.