§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long applications now being considered for(a) registration and (b) naturalisation, are taking on average, to complete; and what reduction in time taken to complete consideration of such applications he anticipates by the end of 1989.
§ Mr. RentonThe average time takent to complete applications for registration and naturalisation in January 1989 was 14 months and 21 months respectively.
In view of the enormous number of applications received towards the end of 1987, no improvement in the average processing times is anticipated during 1989 but a considerable improvement is expected during the course of 1990–91.