HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 c251W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation(a) he has determined personally and (b) have been determined personally by other Ministers in his Department (i) in total since 2 May 1997 and (ii) in (1) 1997, (2) 1998, (3) 1999 and (4) 2000. [149572]

Mrs. Roche

This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The overwhelming majority of decisions are taken by officials.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which hon. Members made representations to his Department between 2 May 1997 and 28 July 1998 in support of relaxing the residence requirement for applicants for naturalisation. [150040]

Mr. Straw

[holding answer 12 February 2001]: None so far as we can determine. It would entail disproportionate cost for us to check for any representations made in the context of individual cases.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the residence requirements are with which an applicant for naturalisation is expected to comply; what is the legal basis for these requirements; and if he will make a statement. [149575]

Mrs. Roche

I refer the hon. Member to Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981 where the residency requirements are set out. Schedule l is the legal basis for the requirements.