§ Sir STUART SAMUELasked the Home Secretary if he can state the educational tests demanded of applicants for naturalisation in this country as well as in the principal States of Europe and America?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware whether any educational tests are applied to applicants for naturalisation in the principal States of Europe and America. There is no such test in this country. Probably my hon. Friend is referring to the well-known practice in accordance with which the Secretary of State, in performing the duty laid upon him by Statute of deciding these applications "as he thinks most conducive to the public good," requires to be informed whether the applicant can speak and read or write the English language reasonably well. This practice is founded on the principle that, save in very exceptional circumstances, a person can have no claim to be invested with the full rights of British nationality in the United Kingdom if he has not identified himself with the life and habits of the country to the extent of becoming reasonably proficient in the language.
1660W
§ Sir STUART SAMUELasked the Home Secretary the cost incurred per individual of making inquiries concerning applicants for naturalisation, and how such cost is arrived at, adding whether those who are granted letters of naturalisation are charged also with the cost of making inquiries respecting those who are refused; and whether, if such be the case, he will consider a reform of the procedure?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs I informed the hon. Member for Mid-Lanarkshire on the 17th of this month, it is impossible to say exactly what is the cost to the State of all the proceedings which are involved in the grant of a certificate of naturalisation. These proceedings form part of the manifold operations of the Home Office and the police, and the cost of them can only be arrived at by estimating the proportion which they bear to the total. In making this estimate it would be wrong, even were it possible, to exclude the cases where the proceedings end in a refusal of a certificate. According to the best estimate which I have been able to make, the cost per case absorbs much the greater portion of the fee of £5. I have gone into the matter very carefully; but, as I stated on the 17th of this month, I do not feel that a reduction of the fee would be justified.