§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of unopened letters on 21 March at Lunar house, Croydon; and of those how many were(a) applications for citizenship and (b) applications for variation of leave.
§ Mr. Renton[holding answer 18 April 1988]: On 21 March, 54,700 applications for citizenship were unopened and a further 41,700 applications for citizenship were opened but not acknowledged; 40,400 other items of mail, principally relating to variations of leave, were unopened. The position has since been further substantially improved, as set out in my reply, on 19 April, at column 410, to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) about the position as at 11 April.