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Naturalisation

Volume 729: debated on Wednesday 25 May 1966

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give details of the procedure and cost of a second application for British nationality in cases where a first application has been rejected;(2) if he will state the fee required when a person makes an application for a certificate of naturalisation; and if he will make a refund if the application is rejected or reduce the application fee if a second application is made.

The prescribed fee for naturalisation is £25, of which only £3 is payable with the application; the balance is not required unless the application is successful. The preliminary fee is a contribution towards the cost of investigation and is therefore required with each application. I am sending my hon. Friend details of the procedure

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what method he satisfies himself that an applicant for British nationality has sufficient knowledge of the English language in accordance with the British Nationality Act, 1948.

Every applicant is interviewed by a police officer, who includes in his report an assessment of the applicant's compliance with the statutory requirements, including knowledge of English. But the interviewing officer's assessment is not necessarily accepted when the case for naturalisation is considered in the Home Office, and my right hon. Friend is always ready to receive and give due weight to any supplementary evidence on this point that the applicant or his friends may wish to provide.