§ Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens have applied for admission to this country in the last six months; how many applications have been granted; how many applications for naturalisation have been made and granted over the same period; and what proportion of each figure has been children.
§ Mr. EdeNo statistics are available as to the number of applications made to British consuls or passport control officers abroad for visas for journeys to the United Kingdom, or as to the number of such applications which have been granted. In the six months ended on 31st August last the number of foreigners who arrived at sea or air ports in the United Kingdom was 158,890, of whom 156,043 were granted leave to land. Most of these admissions were for short visits, and the number of foreigners who during the same period left the country was 148,753. No separate figures have been kept of children coming for short visits, but during the period in question about 2,000 foreign children were admitted for longer visits.
As regards naturalisation certificates, full information as to the number granted was given in my reply of 10th October to the hon. and gallant Member for Spen Valley (Lieut.-Colonel Sharp). The number of new applications lodged in the six months ended 30th September was 8,025. Statistics are not kept of the number of children included in certificates granted to their parents, but it is estimated that in every 100 certificates recently granted to adults about 11 children have been included.