Written question asked by Lord Monson (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative) on Monday, 1 November 2010.

Terrorism

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether foreign nationals suspected of involvement in terrorism who are given indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom are automatically entitled, after a period of years, to be granted (a) British citizenship, and (b) the right to vote in general, local and European elections.

Answer: Foreign nationals who are given indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom are not automatically entitled after any number of years to be granted British citizenship. Any person applying for citizenship on the basis of their length of residency in the UK must satisfy a number of statutory requirements before being granted citizenship. An individual suspected of involvement in terrorism is unlikely to be able to meet the statutory requirement to be of good character and so would be likely to be refused British citizenship. Furthermore, where a foreign national represents a threat to our national security, the UK Border Agency will seek to deport him or her for that reason, irrespective of whether or not the person concerned has been convicted of any offence. The Home Office is not the lead department on the issue of the voting rights of foreign nationals resident in the UK. The noble Lord may wish to raise this query with the Electoral Commission.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2721; 721 c372WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: British nationality Immigration Foreign nationals Terrorism Voting rights
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk