Immigration: EU Nationals

(asked on 5th July 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assistance his Department is providing to (a) children in care and (b) care leavers who are non-UK EU citizens to regularise their status in the UK through the EU settlement scheme.


Answered by
Nadhim Zahawi Portrait
Nadhim Zahawi
This question was answered on 10th July 2019

The EU Settlement Scheme is the responsibility of the Home Office, however the Department for Education has been working closely with them on the design and operation of the EU Settlement Scheme, including work in 5 local authorities to test the application process before it was rolled out nationally.

The testing was useful in identifying changes needed to reflect the issues faced by this vulnerable group of children and young people. This included issues associated with a lack of relevant identity documents, which have subsequently been addressed by the Home Office.

The Department for Education has worked with the Home Office to ensure that information has been shared widely with local authorities and with other interested organisations to ensure that action is taken with respect to all eligible children and young people. This has included the production and distribution of specific guidance for local authorities to assist them with their responsibilities to support children in care and care leavers.

The department remains committed to working closely with the Home Office to monitor uptake of the EU Settlement Scheme and to ensure that the needs of looked-after children and care leavers are considered as a priority.

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