§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration under the Pakistan Act have been received; how many applications have been granted and how many refused up to 1st January 1976; and how many have been granted or refused since 1st January 1976 up to the present date.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe statistics of applications received do not distnguish between those made by citizens of Pakistan on grounds of ordinary residence as if they had continued to be Commonwealth citizens—for which the Pakistan Act made provision—and those made by wives and on behalf of minor children under other provisions of the British Nationality Act 1948. Between 1st September 1973 and 2nd July 1976 a total of 93,040 citizens of Pakistan applied for registration.
Between 1st September 1973 and 31st December 1975, 49,548 citizens of Pakistan were registered on grounds of ordinary residence; and 26,650 on other grounds. Between 1st January and 2nd July 1976 the figures are 3,052 and 4,127 respectively.
Between 1st September 1973 and 31st December 1975, 4,531 citizens of Pakistan were refused registration, and a further 2,772 up to 2nd July 1976. Statistics are not kept according to the reasons for refusal; but a sample check last year showed that about two-thirds of the refusals were because the applicant did not qualify under the transitional provisions of the Pakistan Act; and that of the people so refused about two-thirds were informed that they would still be able to qualify for registration by virtue of that Act at later dates. The higher proportion of recent refusals is largely accounted for by the fact that the straightforward cases were mostly decided earlier.