Wednesday, May 18 2005 16:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: A record number of foreigners, including 13,540 from India, were given a British passport last year (2004), bringing the overall number of migrants granted citizenship since 1997, when Labour party came to power, to more than 700,000.

Almost 70 per cent of new Britons in 2004 came from Africa, the Indian sub-continent and the rest of Asia, according to Home Office figures published today (May 18, 2005).

The number of people given citizenship in Britain has risen in every year, since Labour came to power in 1997 and is now 100,000 more than the 1997 figure.

One third of new citizens were migrants from Africa, a quarter were from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and a further 12 per cent from the rest of Asia.

Migrants from Pakistan topped the list of new British citizens, with a total of 14,125, or 10 per cent. They were followed by 14,125 Somalis, 13,540 Indians, 6370 South Africans and 6,280 Nigerians.

More than half of new citizens were aged between 25 and 44, almost one in five were children under 16 and one in ten were aged 16-24.

New English-language tests for prospective citizens appeared to be having some effect in reducing applications for citizenship, which fell by eight per cent to 135,000, compared with a rise of 28 per cent in 2003.

The increase in new citizens came as the number of asylum-seekers and dependents seeking refugee status fell by 18 per cent to 8,260 in the first quarter of 2005, compared with the last quarter of 2004.

The large fall in asylum applications was not matched by similar success in removing failed applicants, which is now the Government's priority.

"The citizenship figures show that many people who have settled in the UK want to make a commitment to UK society by applying for and becoming British citizens," Immigration Minister Tony McNulty said. I

"It is a commitment that is now recognised and celebrated through our new citizenship ceremonies and the requirement to have basic knowledge of English will help new citizens participate and contribute more fully to British life," he said.

Since last July all would-be British citizens have had to meet an international standard of competence in English. A total of 63,366 people granted nationality have taken part in the citizenship ceremonies, which began last February and required people to pledge allegiance to the Queen and vow to uphold British democracy.

According to the figures, monthly asylum applications are now at their lowest since March 1997 and four out of five new claims are decided within two months.

However, the number of people granted "hard case" benefit support, which includes food, shelter and other basic needs, soared by 244 per cent; 8,045 people, most of whom have had asylum applications refused but are deemed unable to return home, have been receiving the assistance.