Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether reducing absenteeism in schools will be an explicit goal of the curriculum review.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity. Thanks to the efforts of the sector there are more learners in school but, with 1.6 million children still persistently absent, this remains a major challenge.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review is being independently conducted by a group of education leaders (the review group) and chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The terms of reference were published in July, which is attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/curriculum-and-assessment-review.

The review will look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve, in particular those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, or with special educational needs or disabilities. However, the review will not be able to address every issue facing the curriculum and assessment system. It will therefore seek to identify and focus on addressing the most significant and pressing issues facing curriculum and assessment without destabilising the system.

Ministers will take decisions on what changes to make to curriculum, assessment and qualifications in the light of the final recommendations from the review group next autumn.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 24 October (HL Deb col 742) , whether they intend to introduce physical proof of immigration status for EU citizens living in the UK; and if so, when.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be more digital and streamlined by 2025, a change that will enhance the applicant’s experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency.

Successful EUSS applicants are given a UK Visas and Immigration account, which they can use to view and share their immigration status with others securely and in real-time. The Withdrawal Agreement explicitly allows for status to be provided in digital form. We will continue working towards a border and immigration system that is digital by default, and issuing immigration status in the form of an eVisa is part of this.

As with all such major change programmes, we are keeping our eVisa systems under review during the implementation period to identify and address any emerging issues.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 24 October (HL Deb col 744), when they will carry out their review of the digitisation of immigration status; and when the results will be known.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be more digital and streamlined by 2025, a change that will enhance the applicant’s experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency.

Successful EUSS applicants are given a UK Visas and Immigration account, which they can use to view and share their immigration status with others securely and in real-time. The Withdrawal Agreement explicitly allows for status to be provided in digital form. We will continue working towards a border and immigration system that is digital by default, and issuing immigration status in the form of an eVisa is part of this.

As with all such major change programmes, we are keeping our eVisa systems under review during the implementation period to identify and address any emerging issues.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to abolish the distinction between the “true cohort” and “extra cohort” of EU citizens who have been awarded settled status.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK implemented the Withdrawal Agreement more generously than required by not testing whether EU citizens resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 were exercising a qualifying Treaty right in accordance with Directive 2004/38/EC.

This simplified the application process for the EU Settlement Scheme by avoiding the need for applicants to meet complex evidential requirements. No one has any lesser rights by virtue of their EUSS status than they are entitled to under the Withdrawal Agreement.

The UK has always sought to treat the same those who do meet the stricter eligibility requirements under the Withdrawal Agreement, and those who do not. Where minimal differences in treatment have arisen for pre-settled status holders as a result of litigation, we seek to minimise these through casework.

However, the UK cannot unilaterally expand the scope of the Withdrawal Agreement to bring such people within its scope.

Found: LORD BASSAM OF BRIGHTON LORD FREYBERG THE EARL OF CLANCARTY 208_ After Clause 132, insert

Found: Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] 80 LORD BASSAM OF BRIGHTON LORD FREYBERG THE EARL OF CLANCARTY

Found: LORD BASSAM OF BRIGHTON LORD FREYBERG THE EARL OF CLANCARTY ★_ After Clause 132, insert the

Found: Letter dated 30/10/2024 from Lord Hanson to the Earl of Clancarty regarding a supplementary question