Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a list of the circumstances in which a person is required by law to produce or show their birth certificate in an education setting.

The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011, and associated student support regulations, require higher education students to provide information requested by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education.

For the first year of their course, undergraduate students that apply to Student Finance England for student support are asked to provide proof of identity on their application form by including details from their passport. Student Finance England share the passport details of the applicant with HM Passport Office to confirm that they are valid. If a student does not have a valid, current passport, they are asked to send a photocopy of their UK birth or adoption certificate to Student Finance England.

There are other circumstances where an educational institution may request evidence for verification purposes. This could include, but is not limited to, a birth certificate in order to prove identity, date of birth or the right to work in the UK.