Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to review the grounds for people applying for leave to remain (family and private life) to be able to expedite that request.

We will consider requests to expedite family and private life applications in the most serious circumstances, such as serious family illness or bereavement abroad or other exceptionally compassionate circumstances, if such requests are supported by documentary evidence.

The criteria against which we will expedite is under constant review.

The Home Office receives requests from MPs and their offices for the expediting of their constituents’ family and human rights applications. Such requests are considered as a priority. I am not aware of any correspondence the Home Office has had recently with civil society organisations about our expedite criteria.