Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the interpretation of the phrase "since 1st January 1973" on the front page of his Department's Form R, "Application for Registration as a British Citizen"; what advice his Department has given about the meaning to be attached to that phrase; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonRepresentations have been received from several hon. Members and others including the Leeds city council, the Leeds community relations councils and the Greek Cypriots' Association of Fulham-Hammersmith. We have explained that the words in question were chosen in an attempt to describe simply in a leaflet for guidance, which makes it plain that the law on registration is in the British Nationality Act 1981, a complicated part of the requirements. If misunderstood, the words used would tend to encourage rather than discourage applications.