Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is his Department's policy that EU residents who are acting as carers and will have been living in the UK lawfully and continuously for five years by 29 March 2019 will be considered as workers and able to apply for settled-status.

We agreed with the EU that the eligibility criteria for UK settled status will be the same as, or more favourable than, those set out in the Free Movement Directive for acquiring permanent residence.

As a matter of domestic policy, we have decided that the main requirement for eligibility under the settlement scheme will be continuous residence in the UK. Applicants will not need to demonstrate that they met the relevant requirements in the Free Movement Directive as to permitted activity.