Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to reports of a shortage of free appointments for visa applicants to register their biometric data, what recent discussions she has had with Sopra Steria on the availability of those appointments.

Sopra Steria Ltd (SSL) are a commercial partner who run the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) on behalf of UKVI. UKVI is working closely with SSL to ensure a sufficient level of appointments is available.

SSL monitor UKVCAS performance against set key performance indicators (KPIs) within the contract, with the Home Office maintaining oversight to ensure Sopra Steria Ltd adhere to contractual requirements.