HL Deb 06 October 1980 vol 413 cc174-6WA
Lord AVEBURY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the present estimated average period for which applicants for citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies in each of the following categories (a) had waited before their applications were decided, (b) now applying can expect to have to wait before their applications are decided: (i) applicants for naturalisation and registration under Section 5A(2), (ii) applicants for registration under Section 6(1), (iii) applicants for registration as married women, (iv) applicants for registration of minors.

Lord BELSTEAD

The current estimated average periods for which applicants for citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies have had to wait before completion of their applications are as follows:

Type of application Estimated average waiting period
(i) Applications for naturalization and registration under Section 5A(2) of the British Nationality Act 1948 2 years
(ii) Applications for registration under Section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1948 1 year

SENTENCED PRISONERS IN PRISON DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES ON 30TH APRIL 1980: BY TYPE OF SENTENCE AND COUNTRY OF BIRTH
Country of birth
Sentence length and type UK Commonwealth Other(1) Not known Total
Imprisonment
Up to and including 1 year 8,267 464 591 296 9,618
Over 1 year and up to and including 2 years 6,231 362 341 115 7,049
Over 2 years and up to and including 5 years 7,730 594 494 136 8,954
Over 5 years and including life 3,444 320 346 74 4,184
Borstal training 5,146 140 83 189 5,558
Detention centre 2,044 41 27 39 2,151
Total 32,862 1,921 1,882 849 37,514
(1) Including the Republic of Ireland and Pakistan.

Type of application Estimated average waiting period
(iii) Applications for registration under Section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1948 by married women 1 year
(iv) Applications for the registration of minor children 1 year

It is not possible to give any more precise indication of the likely waiting periods for applicants now applying.