§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average delay in the processing of United Kingdom citizenship applications.
§ Mr. JohnI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirling-shire (Mr. Canavan) on 22 February.—[Vol. 963, c.254.]
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration as United Kingdom citizens are currently outstanding.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning delays in processing applications for British citizenship registration, explaining the cause of such delays and what steps he is taking to overcome them.
§ Mr. JohnThe waiting time for a decision is governed by the number of staff available to deal with these applications. Every effort consistent with the Government's policy of exercising strict economy in the staffing of Government departments is being made to reduce the waiting time, but I can hold out no hope of a rapid improvement.