HC Deb 13 July 1987 vol 119 cc363-4W
Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to exempt from liability to pay the fee for people in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income support to enable them to register as British citizens before the deadline of 31 December.

Mr. Renton

No. The Government believe that it is right that those who wish to become British citizens should meet the cost of their registration. The cost of exemptions for some groups would increase the costs to be borne by other applicants.

Mr. Hurd

Statistics in the form requested are not available. The following table sets out the terrorist incidents which have taken place in Great Britain since 1981. These do not include incidents apparently caused by extremist nationalist or anarchist groups based in Great Britain, or by extremist animal rights activists.

Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider allowing people in receipt of supplementary benefit and family income supplement to be allowed to pay the fee for British citizenship in instalments beyond the deadline of 31 December.

Mr. Renton

I am not persuaded that it would be right to introduce such a system, which would increase costs and the time taken to finalise registration applications. Those who wish to apply for the relevant registration entitlements still have until the end of December to make arrangements to meet the cost of the fee, which has been held at £60 since April 1986.