To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding applications for naturalisation as a British citizen are (a) less than one year old, (b) between one and two years old, (c) between two and three years old and (d) more than three years old.

As at II March 1992 the number of applications for naturalisation awaiting determination was 41,799. Of these (a) 14,992 were less than one year old, (b) 14,640 were between one and two years old, (c) 5,486 were between two and three years old, and (d) 6,681 applications were more than three years old. In addition, there were about 3,500 applications of all types for citizenship awaiting allocation to caseworkers.