HC Deb 19 April 2002 vol 383 c1258W
Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was for a passport to be returned to United Kingdom citizens from the Home Office facility in Croydon over the last 12 months. [49685]

Angela Eagle

This information is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. However, United Kingdom passports are received only in those cases where the sponsor is a British citizen and where a passport is required as evidence of that status. They are normally returned with any other documents submitted by the applicant when an application is decided. Over the last 12 months, the majority of applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom were decided within three weeks, but over recent months this has been nearer to six weeks due to high levels of intake.