Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of waiving visa fees for non-UK (a) service personnel, (b) veterans and (c) their dependents who have served a minimum of five years in Her Majesty's armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence together with the Home Office ran a public consultation this year. The consultation sought views on a policy proposal to waive settlement fees for non-UK Service Personnel. The results of the consultation have been analysed, and once collective agreement has been secured for a fully funded policy, the Government will publish its response, and make any associated changes to fees through Fees Regulations at the earliest opportunity.