Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what right of appeal or administrative review is available to individuals whose EU Settlement Scheme status is determined to have been granted in error; and what safeguards are in place to prevent erroneous decisions resulting in the loss of lawful residence rights.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
A person informed by the Home Office that they have been granted pre-settled status in error can re-apply to the EUSS if they disagree and, if refused, they can appeal to the independent First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Where such an application to the EUSS is made before the expiry of their pre-settled status, they will continue to hold that status while the application, and any appeal against refusal, remains outstanding.
The Home Office considers that the existing arrangements are consistent with the UK's obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. The approach taken is the Home Office’s usual approach when limited leave to enter or remain is granted in error. It allows the person to continue to enjoy a basis of stay in the UK, and the right to work here, for the remaining period of that leave, during which they can apply for leave to remain in the UK under any immigration route available to them.
Local management information indicates that from the introduction of the EUSS in 2018 to 30 June 2026, 1,473 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error. These figures are derived from manual records and may be subject to revision. Information on how many of these individuals’ pre-settled status has expired, or is at risk of expiry, is not held in a reportable format.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider allowing individual's EU Settlement Scheme status to expire because the Home Office considers it was granted in error to be consistent with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
A person informed by the Home Office that they have been granted pre-settled status in error can re-apply to the EUSS if they disagree and, if refused, they can appeal to the independent First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Where such an application to the EUSS is made before the expiry of their pre-settled status, they will continue to hold that status while the application, and any appeal against refusal, remains outstanding.
The Home Office considers that the existing arrangements are consistent with the UK's obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. The approach taken is the Home Office’s usual approach when limited leave to enter or remain is granted in error. It allows the person to continue to enjoy a basis of stay in the UK, and the right to work here, for the remaining period of that leave, during which they can apply for leave to remain in the UK under any immigration route available to them.
Local management information indicates that from the introduction of the EUSS in 2018 to 30 June 2026, 1,473 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error. These figures are derived from manual records and may be subject to revision. Information on how many of these individuals’ pre-settled status has expired, or is at risk of expiry, is not held in a reportable format.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals have been informed that their EU Settlement Scheme status was granted in error since the introduction of the scheme; and how many of those individuals have subsequently lost, or are at risk of losing, their right to reside in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
A person informed by the Home Office that they have been granted pre-settled status in error can re-apply to the EUSS if they disagree and, if refused, they can appeal to the independent First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Where such an application to the EUSS is made before the expiry of their pre-settled status, they will continue to hold that status while the application, and any appeal against refusal, remains outstanding.
The Home Office considers that the existing arrangements are consistent with the UK's obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. The approach taken is the Home Office’s usual approach when limited leave to enter or remain is granted in error. It allows the person to continue to enjoy a basis of stay in the UK, and the right to work here, for the remaining period of that leave, during which they can apply for leave to remain in the UK under any immigration route available to them.
Local management information indicates that from the introduction of the EUSS in 2018 to 30 June 2026, 1,473 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error. These figures are derived from manual records and may be subject to revision. Information on how many of these individuals’ pre-settled status has expired, or is at risk of expiry, is not held in a reportable format.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to suspending the expiry or cancellation of an individual's EU Settlement Scheme status where it is alleged to have been granted in error until the individual concerned has had a meaningful opportunity to challenge that decision.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
A person informed by the Home Office that they have been granted pre-settled status in error can re-apply to the EUSS if they disagree and, if refused, they can appeal to the independent First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Where such an application to the EUSS is made before the expiry of their pre-settled status, they will continue to hold that status while the application, and any appeal against refusal, remains outstanding.
The Home Office considers that the existing arrangements are consistent with the UK's obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. The approach taken is the Home Office’s usual approach when limited leave to enter or remain is granted in error. It allows the person to continue to enjoy a basis of stay in the UK, and the right to work here, for the remaining period of that leave, during which they can apply for leave to remain in the UK under any immigration route available to them.
Local management information indicates that from the introduction of the EUSS in 2018 to 30 June 2026, 1,473 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error. These figures are derived from manual records and may be subject to revision. Information on how many of these individuals’ pre-settled status has expired, or is at risk of expiry, is not held in a reportable format.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of prospective students from Cameroon, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Sudan who have been unable to apply for student visas for the 2026–27 academic year as a result of restrictions on visa applications from nationals of those countries; and what assessment they have made of the impact of those restrictions on UK higher education institutions.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Applications for visas on the affected routes from the affected nationalities are now being refused. The Impact Assessment published during implementation of the visa brake sets out the forecasted impacts on Student visa applications for the affected nationalities. The latest public immigration statistics show that visa applications for the affected routes and nationalities in Q2 2026 have on average fallen by over 90% compared to Q4 2025.
We value the contribution of the higher education sector and continue to engage regularly with it, including Universities UK and the Russell Group, on the challenges the system faces. The visa brake is a temporary, evidence led measure but will only be lifted when the Government judges it appropriate to do so.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to announce the proposed work and study visa routes for refugees; and what assessment they have made of the role such a route could play in providing safe and legal pathways to the UK for refugees who are currently unable to access existing visa routes.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
In the Restoring Order and Control statement, the Home Secretary announced the development of new safe and legal routes to enable communities, universities and employers to identify refugees to sponsor. These routes offer an alternative to dangerous journeys for refugees genuinely fleeing war and persecution.
As announced on 27 June, the refugee study and named sponsorship routes will open to applications from prospective lead sponsors in the autumn, with arrivals expected from autumn 2027 onwards. The refugee work route is expected to open next year.
Work is underway to deliver the new routes, and the Government will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how reducing refugee protection to 30 months aligns with wider Government aims of improving integration and social cohesion.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The November 2025 Asylum Policy Statement set out plans to restore order and increase public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system. The reforms aim to balance increased control over those entering the UK by irregular means with successful integration for those granted protection, enabling people to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities.
Under Core Protection, protection will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home. We have started to implement these changes. Adults and accompanied children claiming asylum from 2 March 2026 will receive a 30-month period of protection, if granted. This change marks the start of introducing a new regime for those seeking protection in the UK.
Individuals will need to apply to renew their status every 30 months. Before their permission to stay expires, an individual must lodge the relevant application to renew their permission to stay under the Immigration Rules in place at the relevant time to continue to receive their associated entitlements of right to work and access to public funds. The HO will also assess whether an individual’s protection needs are ongoing for example, if there has been a significant and durable change in the country situation. At a 30-month review, refugees with a continuing need of sanctuary will have their protection renewed, while those who no longer have a protection need will be expected to return home.
The approach to reviewing status will be efficient and targeted; we will reassess where country conditions or personal circumstances have changed significantly. We will build on the efficiencies that have already seen record levels of initial decisions being made. We will continue to monitor staffing levels and will deploy our workforce flexibly subject to business needs as we have done in the past.
We do not want people to remain on Core Protection for the long term, and only those who do remain on Core Protection will have their protection needs regularly reviewed. We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into the new, Protection, Work and Study route, as part of the “core protection model”.
This new route will be created as an alternative to Core Protection for those who can contribute through work or study - directing people back into a controlled migration system, that they have otherwise stepped around. This is fairer and will contribute to better social cohesion. We want to encourage as many refugees as possible to switch from Core Protection into this new Protection, Work and Study route. That is why there is no limit to the number of refugees who can switch into this route and unlock additional entitlements, such as a shorter route to settlement and ability to sponsor family members, and to integrate more fully into the communities providing them sanctuary.
Those on the Protection, Work and Study Route will not undergo a safe, return review every 30 months as under Core Protection, provided that they continue in employment or education and successfully renew their leave on that basis. We will set out the rules of these routes in due course.
The Home Office is committed to changing the way we deliver our protection offer. We will continue to monitor the impact of this policy as it is developed and implemented. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to impact assessments which will include considering the impact on integration and ensuring value for money. Equalities considerations are at the front and centre of our work. As required through the Public Sector Equality Duty, Home Office officials consider equality impacts throughout the policy development process, and the impact that asylum reforms will have on those with protected characteristics, is no exception.
The asylum and protection measures in the Bill, are just one aspect of wider reforms to transform the asylum system. The impact assessment will be completed once the whole model is fully designed. We are committed to ensuring that proposals are considered carefully, so that they support creation of a system which is both fair and sustainable.
Further details will be set out in future Immigration Rules changes.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on Home Office resources of making refugee protection subject to review every 30 months.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The November 2025 Asylum Policy Statement set out plans to restore order and increase public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system. The reforms aim to balance increased control over those entering the UK by irregular means with successful integration for those granted protection, enabling people to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities.
Under Core Protection, protection will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home. We have started to implement these changes. Adults and accompanied children claiming asylum from 2 March 2026 will receive a 30-month period of protection, if granted. This change marks the start of introducing a new regime for those seeking protection in the UK.
Individuals will need to apply to renew their status every 30 months. Before their permission to stay expires, an individual must lodge the relevant application to renew their permission to stay under the Immigration Rules in place at the relevant time to continue to receive their associated entitlements of right to work and access to public funds. The HO will also assess whether an individual’s protection needs are ongoing for example, if there has been a significant and durable change in the country situation. At a 30-month review, refugees with a continuing need of sanctuary will have their protection renewed, while those who no longer have a protection need will be expected to return home.
The approach to reviewing status will be efficient and targeted; we will reassess where country conditions or personal circumstances have changed significantly. We will build on the efficiencies that have already seen record levels of initial decisions being made. We will continue to monitor staffing levels and will deploy our workforce flexibly subject to business needs as we have done in the past.
We do not want people to remain on Core Protection for the long term, and only those who do remain on Core Protection will have their protection needs regularly reviewed. We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into the new, Protection, Work and Study route, as part of the “core protection model”.
This new route will be created as an alternative to Core Protection for those who can contribute through work or study - directing people back into a controlled migration system, that they have otherwise stepped around. This is fairer and will contribute to better social cohesion. We want to encourage as many refugees as possible to switch from Core Protection into this new Protection, Work and Study route. That is why there is no limit to the number of refugees who can switch into this route and unlock additional entitlements, such as a shorter route to settlement and ability to sponsor family members, and to integrate more fully into the communities providing them sanctuary.
Those on the Protection, Work and Study Route will not undergo a safe, return review every 30 months as under Core Protection, provided that they continue in employment or education and successfully renew their leave on that basis. We will set out the rules of these routes in due course.
The Home Office is committed to changing the way we deliver our protection offer. We will continue to monitor the impact of this policy as it is developed and implemented. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to impact assessments which will include considering the impact on integration and ensuring value for money. Equalities considerations are at the front and centre of our work. As required through the Public Sector Equality Duty, Home Office officials consider equality impacts throughout the policy development process, and the impact that asylum reforms will have on those with protected characteristics, is no exception.
The asylum and protection measures in the Bill, are just one aspect of wider reforms to transform the asylum system. The impact assessment will be completed once the whole model is fully designed. We are committed to ensuring that proposals are considered carefully, so that they support creation of a system which is both fair and sustainable.
Further details will be set out in future Immigration Rules changes.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the renewal process for refugees with 30 months’ temporary protection will entail.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The November 2025 Asylum Policy Statement set out plans to restore order and increase public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system. The reforms aim to balance increased control over those entering the UK by irregular means with successful integration for those granted protection, enabling people to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities.
Under Core Protection, protection will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home. We have started to implement these changes. Adults and accompanied children claiming asylum from 2 March 2026 will receive a 30-month period of protection, if granted. This change marks the start of introducing a new regime for those seeking protection in the UK.
Individuals will need to apply to renew their status every 30 months. Before their permission to stay expires, an individual must lodge the relevant application to renew their permission to stay under the Immigration Rules in place at the relevant time to continue to receive their associated entitlements of right to work and access to public funds. The HO will also assess whether an individual’s protection needs are ongoing for example, if there has been a significant and durable change in the country situation. At a 30-month review, refugees with a continuing need of sanctuary will have their protection renewed, while those who no longer have a protection need will be expected to return home.
The approach to reviewing status will be efficient and targeted; we will reassess where country conditions or personal circumstances have changed significantly. We will build on the efficiencies that have already seen record levels of initial decisions being made. We will continue to monitor staffing levels and will deploy our workforce flexibly subject to business needs as we have done in the past.
We do not want people to remain on Core Protection for the long term, and only those who do remain on Core Protection will have their protection needs regularly reviewed. We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into the new, Protection, Work and Study route, as part of the “core protection model”.
This new route will be created as an alternative to Core Protection for those who can contribute through work or study - directing people back into a controlled migration system, that they have otherwise stepped around. This is fairer and will contribute to better social cohesion. We want to encourage as many refugees as possible to switch from Core Protection into this new Protection, Work and Study route. That is why there is no limit to the number of refugees who can switch into this route and unlock additional entitlements, such as a shorter route to settlement and ability to sponsor family members, and to integrate more fully into the communities providing them sanctuary.
Those on the Protection, Work and Study Route will not undergo a safe, return review every 30 months as under Core Protection, provided that they continue in employment or education and successfully renew their leave on that basis. We will set out the rules of these routes in due course.
The Home Office is committed to changing the way we deliver our protection offer. We will continue to monitor the impact of this policy as it is developed and implemented. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to impact assessments which will include considering the impact on integration and ensuring value for money. Equalities considerations are at the front and centre of our work. As required through the Public Sector Equality Duty, Home Office officials consider equality impacts throughout the policy development process, and the impact that asylum reforms will have on those with protected characteristics, is no exception.
The asylum and protection measures in the Bill, are just one aspect of wider reforms to transform the asylum system. The impact assessment will be completed once the whole model is fully designed. We are committed to ensuring that proposals are considered carefully, so that they support creation of a system which is both fair and sustainable.
Further details will be set out in future Immigration Rules changes.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to end the refugee family reunion suspension, which has been in place since 4 September 2025.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Given the immediate pressures that result from family reunion, we suspended the Refugee Family Reunion route to new applications on 4 September 2025. This was a difficult but necessary decision.
During the suspension, the Government is taking forward wider asylum and family migration reforms to place the system on a fair, controlled and sustainable footing, as set out in the Immigration White Paper and the Restoring Order and Control statement. Details of forthcoming changes will be set out in due course.
Impacts of the suspension continue to be monitored, with equality impacts considered throughout the policy development process.
During the suspension, other family routes, including Appendix FM, are available to family members of those with protection status, if they meet the relevant requirements.