Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time to process an application to the EU Settlement Scheme is.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The following link lists the expected processing times for EU Settlement Scheme applications, based on current performance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-application-processing-times/eu-settlement-scheme-pilot-current-expected-processing-times-for-applications.
Our aim is to process all applications to the Scheme as expeditiously as possible. The majority of applications are concluded within 5 working days. However, it is likely to take longer in the following instances:
Overall, the total number of applications that have been concluded, as of 30 September 2019, was more than 1.5 million (1,524,500). Of these, 61% were granted settled status, 38% were granted pre-settled status.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the second part of the Leveson inquiry into regulation of the press will be commenced; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The government announced in 2018 that it would not be taking forward Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. The Inquiry and subsequent police investigations were comprehensive. More than 300 people gave evidence to the Inquiry, and over 40 people were convicted during the three major investigations. The media landscape has changed significantly since Part 1 of the Inquiry. Reopening the Inquiry would cost millions, and we believe it is no longer appropriate, proportionate, or in the public interest to do so. There have been extensive reforms to policing practices, as well as significant changes to press self-regulation.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the eligibility criteria are for existing family members when applying for settled status after 31 December 2020 but before 29 March 2022.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s priority remains to leave the European Union with a deal.
In the event that we leave the EU without a deal, the EU Settlement Scheme will continue to operate for EU citizens resident here by exit. They would be able to be joined in the UK under the scheme, by 29 March 2022, by existing close family members (spouses, partners, children, parents and grandparents), where the relationship existed by exit (or where a child was born overseas after this date) and continued to exist when the family member applied.
Details of the policy on citizens’ rights in a no deal Brexit were published on 6 December 2018 and are available here:
Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 170, which would implement the relevant changes to the EU Settlement Scheme in the event of a no deal Brexit, was laid before Parliament on 24 October 2019 and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-170-24-october-2019.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criminality checks would be for EEA citizens seeking to migrate to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
In circumstances where the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union without a deal, EU citizens who move to the UK and wish to stay beyond 31 December 2020 will need to apply for European temporary leave to remain.
Applicants will be required to declare whether they have criminal convictions in the UK or abroad. We will carry out criminality and security checks on all applications including checks against UK police databases as well as Home Office watch-lists.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to hold a public consultation on the operation of the European temporary leave to remain scheme.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government does not plan to undertake a public consultation on the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme, the proposed arrangements for which were set out on 4 September 2019 and are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-immigration-after-free-movement-ends-if-theres-no-deal.
However, the overall policy and approach have been discussed with internal and external stakeholders, such as groups representing employers, EU citizens in the UK, Consulates and community organisations, and account has been taken of those discussions.