§ Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Home Secretary whether alien refugees admitted for settlement into Crown Colonies and Dependencies will thereby be enabled to obtain British nationality; if so, after what length of residence they will be permitted to apply for it; and if he can give an assurance that it will not be possible for such persons to be thereafter entitled to settle permanently in Great Britain?
§ Mr. PeakeThe statutory qualifications for naturalisation are uniform throughout the British Empire. The minimum residence required before a person is eligible to make an application is five years. It does not follow that a certificate would be granted to a person unless it appeared that he had the intention of remaining settled in that part of the Empire in which he is resident. The grant of a certificate is discretionary. But should such a person come to the United Kingdom, he has, as my right hon. Friend stated in reply to a question on the 12th instant, the same rights and privileges in this country as any other British subject.