British citizenships rise by seven per cent
Number of people granted British citizenship last year rose
Tuesday, 20, May 2008 11:42
The number of people granted British citizenship last year rose by seven per cent to 164,635, Home Office figures show.
New government statistics also show the total number of asylum applications for the first three months of 2008 were up to 6,595, 16 per cent higher than the same period the year before.
The number of migrants registering their arrival from eastern Europe however continued to fall, with 45,000 registered in the first quarter of 2008, 7,000 fewer than last year.
Overall, the Home Office figures represent the second lowest official statistics for asylum applications since 1993/94.
Citizens from countries in Asia and Africa accounted for 44 and 31 per cent of the citizenships granted last year.
While in the first quarter of this year residents from Afghanistan, Iraq and Zimbabwe represented the highest number of asylum applications.
The Independent Asylum Commission also today published its first report calling for the term 'asylum' to be replaced by 'sanctuary'.
"Unless we take action to restore public support and confidence the outlook for the UK's tradition of providing sanctuary to those fleeing persecution is bleak." the commission's chair and former high court judge Sir John Waite said.