§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will take steps to allow the fees for British citizenship to be waived for those applicants on supplementary benefit or in receipt of family income supplement;
(2) whether he proposes to increase staffing levels to cope with the increased demand for citizenship applications;
(3) whether he will implement the recommendations of the third report of the Home Affairs Committee, Session 1982–83, to reduce the cost of discretionary nationality applications from £200 to £80;
(4) whether he will take steps to allow those receiving citizenship through entitlement registration to obtain this without charge;
(5) whether he will take steps to allow those applying for British citizenship to pay their fees when their applications are approved rather then when they are received.
§ Mr. WaddingtonMy right hon. and learned Friend welcomes the recent report of the Home Affairs Committee, following its inquiry into British nationality fees, as a useful and constructive document. Its recommendations are being fully and carefully considered.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates is the present average delay in examining an application for British citizenship; and how large is the present backlog of applications.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe average time taken to process the successful applications completed in May 1983 was just under 11 months for entitlements to registration and just under 20 months for naturalisations and discretionary registrations. The number of applications for citizenship awaiting completion was approximately 78,000 at the end of May.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people he estimates to have been prevented from applying for British citizenship owing to the increased level of fees since April 1982; and what representations he has received concerning this matter.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWe have no evidence from which a firm estimate could be made of the general effect of the increases on potential applicants. My right hon. and learned Friend will be looking carefully at the suggestions given in evidence to the Home Affairs Committee (third report, Session 1982–83) that some people may have been deterred from applying for British citizenship because of the current level of fees.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much profit he estimates his Department has made from nationality fees since April 1982; and what he estimates will be the likely profit in the forthcoming year.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe assertion that a profit has arisen since April 1982 will be considered by my right hon. and learned Friend in the context of the third report of the Home Affairs Committee—Session 1982–83. I will write to the hon. and learned Member as soon as I can.
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§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applied for British citizenship in the year to April 1983.
§ Mr. WaddingtonIn the 12 month; ending 31 March 1983, 95,897 applications for citizenship were received.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purposes he intends to use the profit resulting from the increase in nationality fees in April 1982.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI shall write to the hon. and learned Member.