§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that photocopies of passports and other documents sent to his Department by those applying to register as British citizens are made and retained by the Home Office in order to avoid further delays in processing applications.
§ Mr. RentonNo. Passports and documents submitted with the applications for registration received before 31 435W December 1987, which were the subject of my statement on 16 February, at column 863, have already been returned.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether passports and other documents, sent to his Department by those applying to register as British citizens, are being returned to the home addresses of applicants by recorded delivery in all cases; and if he will make a statement;
(2) why 19 passports and other documentation relating to various applications to the Home Office were sent from Lunar house, Croydon, in an OHMS envelope, which was badly torn, and not posted by recorded delivery, on 18 April, to the offices of the Bradford Council for Voluntary Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonThe normal practice is to return passports and documents by recorded delivery post. The cases in question cannot be identified from particulars given, but if the hon. Member will provide further details, I will investigate the matter.