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Written Question
Immigration Controls: EU Countries
Thursday 10th July 2025

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 4 June (HL7658), in what contexts relating to border controls they describe British citizens as "UK nationals", and for what reasons.

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

In this specific context, this was in reference to the need for UK nationals to register for the EU’s Entry / Exit System once it has been implemented.


Written Question
Immigration Controls: Dual Nationality
Wednesday 9th July 2025

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether British citizens are legally required to use a British passport on entering and exiting the UK; whether there has been a change in legal requirements for dual citizens since the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation; and in what circumstances dual citizens may use a certificate of entitlement in a foreign passport to enter the UK.

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

The Government has published guidance on Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) for dual British citizens, accessible via Gov.UK. Our communication and support offer is updated in line with feedback from users.

There is no single specific legal requirement that a British Citizen must travel on a British passport. However, primary legislation is clear that evidence of right of abode in the UK can only be demonstrated at the UK border through the production of either a British passport or other passport endorsed with a certificate of entitlement to the right of above (CoE). This is the means by which British citizens demonstrate their right to enter the UK.

The introduction of ETAs makes no change to legal requirements for dual British citizens.


Written Question
Immigration Controls: Dual Nationality
Wednesday 9th July 2025

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review and update the guidance for dual citizens in the light of the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation; and what steps they are taking to ensure that such guidance is easily accessible to British citizens resident overseas.

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

The Government has published guidance on Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) for dual British citizens, accessible via Gov.UK. Our communication and support offer is updated in line with feedback from users.

There is no single specific legal requirement that a British Citizen must travel on a British passport. However, primary legislation is clear that evidence of right of abode in the UK can only be demonstrated at the UK border through the production of either a British passport or other passport endorsed with a certificate of entitlement to the right of above (CoE). This is the means by which British citizens demonstrate their right to enter the UK.

The introduction of ETAs makes no change to legal requirements for dual British citizens.


Written Question
Educational Visits: France
Thursday 28th November 2024

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 12 November (HL2099), what discussions they have had with other countries to introduce a similar scheme for school visits to the UK.

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

To date, we have had no such discussions.


Written Question
Educational Visits: France
Tuesday 12th November 2024

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether visiting French school groups will be able to continue using the France-UK school trip travel information form after April 2025; and what discussions they have had with other countries to introduce a similar scheme for school visits to the UK.

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

We permit the use of national identity cards for French schoolchildren (aged 18 and under) travelling on organised trips and waive UK visa requirements for their classmates who are visa nationals. Their responsible adults must be in possession of a fully completed and authenticated form listing the participants in the trip. French schools can access the form online from gov.uk. More information and a link to the form can be found at: Visit the UK as part of a French school trip - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In advance of the ETA scheme opening to applications from European nationals next year, the Government has considered the implications of the scheme on French school groups visiting the UK, and has agreed that children aged 18 and under travelling as part of a French school group will be temporarily exempted from the ETA requirement until a group solution is developed. This will allow EU, EEA and Swiss children to continue to use their identity cards on organised French school trips to the UK.

At the Leaders’ Summit in Paris on 10 March 2023, as part of an overall agreement on migration reached with France, the UK committed to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for school children on organised trips from France.


Written Question
Electronic Travel Authorisations: EU Countries
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 12 August (HL502), whether they have set a date for the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme roll out to EU nationals; and whether they have informed port operators about this timetable.

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

No date has yet been set for the further rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, including to European nationals. We expect to make an announcement very shortly and will work with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to those affected.


Written Question
Electronic Travel Authorisations
Monday 12th August 2024

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the electronic travel authorisation requirement will be introduced for (1) EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and (2) citizens of the rest of the world.

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

The Home Office has engaged regularly with the European Union, the Government of France, Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the introduction of both the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

We currently expect the EU to implement EES in November. Further details will be announced shortly about the remainder of the ETA roll out, including when the scheme will apply to EU nationals. We are working with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to the travelling public.


Written Question
Electronic Travel Authorisations: EU Countries
Monday 12th August 2024

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Hanson of Flint on 29 July (HLWS29), what discussions they have had with the EU and the government of France about the rollout of the electronic travel authorisation requirement for EU citizens; and what steps they are taking to prepare the public for upcoming changes to travel rules between the UK and the Schengen Area.

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

The Home Office has engaged regularly with the European Union, the Government of France, Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the introduction of both the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

We currently expect the EU to implement EES in November. Further details will be announced shortly about the remainder of the ETA roll out, including when the scheme will apply to EU nationals. We are working with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to the travelling public.


Written Question
Electronic Travel Authorisations: EU Countries
Monday 12th August 2024

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Eurostar and the operators of Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the timing of the expected introduction of the EU’s entry/exit system and the rollout of the UK’s electronic travel authorisation for EU citizens.

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

The Home Office has engaged regularly with the European Union, the Government of France, Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the introduction of both the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

We currently expect the EU to implement EES in November. Further details will be announced shortly about the remainder of the ETA roll out, including when the scheme will apply to EU nationals. We are working with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to the travelling public.


Written Question
Crime: Gambling
Wednesday 29th June 2022

Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the use of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for cases involving crime associated with gambling-related harms.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

We have no plans to review the use of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for cases involving crime associated with gambling-related harms.

The Gambling Commission will continue to advise on the practical application of primary and secondary legislation to prevent gambling harm, and will continue to work with the Home Office and the rest of government to implement the Economic Crime Plan, the National Strategic Assessment and the Suspicious Activity Reports Transformation programme.