500 new British citizens in five years

Treasury Minister Alex Allinson says around 500 people have become naturalised citizens in the past five years.

He faced a question for written reply from Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh about the number of people being granted British citizenship on the Island.

Dr Allinson said the figures had been relatively stable in recent years with between 100 and 130 people a year, and a total of 498 since 2021.

But he said this year's figure - of just 19 - was low because new systems being introduced meant applications had been paused since last April.