Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of increases in the waiting time for citizenship ceremonies on applicants.

The usual deadline for a person to attend a ceremony within three months of their application being approved has been extended to six months. The majority of those applying for British citizenship (naturalisation applicants) will be settled in the UK, and so already able to access public services on this basis.

In addition, there is discretion to waive the requirements to make the oath, pledge and to attend a ceremony in the special circumstances where a person needs to acquire citizenship quickly for a compelling reason.