Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time taken to complete all the proceedings relating to the registration of a person as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies; and whether he has any plans to speed up this procedure;
(2) what is the average time taken to complete all the proceedings relating to naturalisation; and whether he has any plans to speed up this procedure.
§ Mr. RaisonThe current average time taken to complete the processing of an application for naturalisation or for discretionary registraion under section 5A(2) of the British Nationality Act 1948 is 25 months. The current average time taken to complete other applications is 13 months.
Although every effort is being made to reduce the present waiting times, the greatly increased numbers of applications now being received and the need to contain public spending limits what can be done.