Mr. James Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reason for the delay in dealing with the application for a passport made by Mr. Abdul Kahar, 9 Piercefield Place, Cardiff, who has lived in the United Kingdom since 1945; why the documentary evidence of residence sent to the Home Office—reference number K 305541—on 11 April, by recorded delivery, 106W namely, marriage certificate in lieu of a birth certificate, merchant seaman's identity card and daughter's birth certificate, has not been returned despite many requests for them, and why no written communication has been sent to Mr. Kahar; and if he will now instruct that a passport be issued forthwith and apologies issued for the delay.
§ Mr. WhitelawMr. Kahar applied for registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies on 11 April. I am sorry that, contrary to the usual practice and owing to inadvertence, an acknowledgment was not sent to him. We have not been able to trace any request for the return of the documents Mr. Kahar sent with his application.
There has been a substantial increase in the number of applications for citizenship in recent years and because this has coincided with a period when economies are necessary it has not been possible to provide sufficient staff to deal with applications as quickly as we would like. Applications are therefore taking several months to deal with, and I am sorry that it has not been possible to consider Mr. Kahar's application before now.
However, the application has now been considered and we shall shortly be getting in touch with Mr. Kahar to enable the formalities of registration, to be completed. The issue of United Kingdom passports is a matter for the Passport Office. Once Mr. Kahar has his certificate of registration, he should be able to obtain a passport on making application to that office.