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8. As to other changes which will be very much welcomed
by particular groups, there is the discretion to allow
longer periods of absence during the first ten years of
the life of someone born in this country who applies for
citizenship in his own right under clause 1(4).
glad that we have been able to devise a way of meeting
the concern expressed by many of your Lordships on this
point.
I am
१. Then there is the recognition of the special position
of those of our citizens employed by European Community
Institutions reflected in the addition to clause 2 agreed
on Report a measure which owes so much to the advocacy
of my noble friend the Baroness Elles. The Government
is glad that it has been possible to recognise the service
such people give to the United Kingdom and our partners
in the European Community in this way.
18.
We have made a number of weful changes in the language
requirement for applicants for naturalisation under clause 5.
The requirement has now been removed altogether for spouses
a measure that could greatly help women from the third world
who may not have opportunities for learning English. There
will now be a discretion to waive the language requirement
on grounds of mental condition - a measure that will, we believe, help to relieve the particularly painful situation of parents of mentally handicapped adults who are anxious