§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for each month since implementation of the British Nationality Act for those whose applications for British citizenship has been rejected on the basis of inadequate command of the English language; how command of the language is being assessed in such cases; and what criteria are used and by whom.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on 1 January 1983. No figures are yet available for refusals of those applications for naturalisation as a British citizen made under the 1981 Act where a knowledge of the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language is a requirement. In 1982, 200 applications, 2.4 per cent. of the total number of naturalisation applications completed during the year, were refused because of insufficient knowledge of the English language. The criteria for assessing knowledge of the language in respect of naturalisation applications made under the 1981 Act are similar to the criteria for such applications made under the 1948 Act except that under the 1981 Act the language requirement may be waived if, because of the applicant's age or physical or mental condition, it would be unreasonable to expect him to fulfil it.
Guidance notes issued by the Home Office for use of local police officers when interviewing applicants under the 1981 Act state that it is important to know whether the applicant has enough knowledge of one of the appropriate languages to mix easily in the society in which he moves and to fulfil his duties as a citizen. The notes also advise that if, when an applicant is first seen, his knowledge of the appropriate spoken language is so poor that a satisfactory interview cannot be completed unless an interpreter is used no further inquiries need to be made and the papers should be returned to the Home Office with a report.