§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of applications for British citizenship outstanding at the latest available date; what was the corresponding figure at the same time in each of the last five years; what is the average time currently between the receipt of a British citizenship application and a decision being taken; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleOn 30 November 1993, the number of recorded outstanding applications for British citizenship was 39,638. The numbers of recorded applications outstanding at the end of November in each of the previous five years were as follows:
168W
Number November 1988 114,152 November 1989 125,407 November 1990 88,671
Number November 1991 52,713 November 1992 49,945 During November the average waiting time between the receipt of an application and a certificate being issued was 17 months for certificates of naturalisation and 13 months for certificates of registration. The latter figure includes those certificates issued to minors whose applications were submitted at the same time as their parents' application for naturalisation.