§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimated waiting time for persons seeking British naturalisation; and what was the comparable waiting time for June 1979.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe current average waiting time for persons seeking British citizenship by naturalisation is about 20 months. In 1979 it was about 25 months.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons have applied for naturalisation at the latest date; how many are still awaiting a decision; and what were the figures for June 1979;
(2) how many persons have applied for registration as British citizens at the latest date; how many are awaiting a decision; and what are the comparable figures for June 1979.
§ Mr. WaddingtonSeparate figures for the number of applicants for naturalisation and the number of120W applications for registration awaiting decision are not available. It is estimated that there are some 50,000 applications for naturalisation or registration awaiting completion. The figure for the end of June 1979 was about 36,000. Between July 1979 and the end of May 1984, 315,000 applications for citizenship have been made, of which 49,000 were for naturalisation.