Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants for (a) indefinite leave to remain in the UK and (b) naturalisation as a British citizen have passed the Life in the UK test and have an intermediate level English Language speaking and listening qualification since the test was introduced.

The Government strengthened the requirements for indefinite leave to remain and naturalisation as a British citizen in October 2013 to require adult applicants both to pass the Life in the UK test and to have an intermediate level speaking and listening qualification. There are some limited exceptions to this requirement, for example where applicants have a physical or mental condition which severely restricts their ability to learn English and it is possible for some applicants to demonstrate their level of English in a different way such as by being a national of an English speaking country or having a degree taught in English. In the period between October 2013 and September 2014, 107,565 applicants have
been granted indefinite leave and 149,357 have been naturalised as British citizens.