Commentary on Sections Part 1: Nationality Section 1: Naturalisation: knowledge of language and society
18.Section 1 amends the provisions in the BNA 1981 which set out the requirements that an applicant for naturalisation as a British citizen must satisfy. (There is already a requirement, in paragraph 1(1)(c) of Schedule 1 to the BNA 1981, for certain applicants to have a sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic.)
19.Subsection (1) adds to Schedule 1 of the BNA 1981 a requirement for the applicant to demonstrate sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom.
20.Subsection (2) enables the Secretary of State to waive the requirement that an applicant must have sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom where he considers that, because of the applicant’s age or physical or mental condition, it would be unreasonable to expect him or her to fulfil it.
21.Subsection (3) enables provision to be made by regulations for determining whether a person has a sufficient knowledge of a language and whether a person has sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom for the purpose of an application for naturalisation.
22.By subsection (4) the regulations may make provision about how those requirements of sufficient knowledge of language and about life in the United Kingdom are met (for example, by reference to a specified qualification or attendance on a specified course).