Immigration and Nationality Directorate

HC Deb 21 January 1998 vol 304 c582W

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to process to completion applications for British citizenship; and if he will make a statement. [23917]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

At 31 December 1997, the Nationality Directorate was taking on average 15.8 months from receipt to completion for Nationality applications.

Working practices and organisation in the Nationality Directorate are currently being looked at internally in order to improve the service to applicants. Next year, the introduction of the Caseworking Programme in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will produce efficiency savings which will speed up the processing of these applications.