§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration for British citizenship were received in his Department by 31 December 1987; what policy has been adopted to decide whether or not an application was received by 31 December 1987; if he will now extend the deadline by six months; and how many representations he has received urging the deadline to be extended.
§ Mr. RentonWe have an estimated 250,000 registration and naturalisation applications awaiting initial consideration. We cannot yet say how many of these are applications for registration. In practice, to take account of postal delays around Christmas, we are treating applications as having been made before the deadline if they had postmarks earlier than 1 January 1988, regardless of when they were delivered; or if they were delivered by post before 7 January provided the declaration on the form was completed by 31 December 1987. There is however no power to extend the 31 December time limit in respect of applications under section 8 of the British Nationality Act 1981 made on the grounds of marriage. The exercise of discretion to accept late applications made by Commonwealth citizens under section 7 of the Act must take account of the special circumstances of each individual case.
We have received representations about the deadline from 17 right hon. and hon. Members, three local authorities and five organisations.