Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure children born in the UK or brought to the UK as children, particularly those in care, are not entering adulthood without their UK citizenship registered.

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

The Public Protection Specialist Safeguarding Team (formerly the Citizenship Vulnerable Person Team) has worked with local authorities since June 2022 to promote awareness of citizenship options for children in care. It has proactively engaged with every local authority to help ensure they understand the full range of British citizenship registration routes available to children for whom they are responsible and to support them in making applications.

On 8 April, the fee to register a child as a British citizen was reduced from £1,214 to £1,000. The fee can be waived for those unable to afford it and does not apply to children looked after by a local authority.

The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 introduced section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981, which allows adults to be registered as British citizens where they would have been, or would have been able to become, a British citizen but for historical legislative unfairness, an act or omission of a public authority, or exceptional circumstances relating to the applicant. While not limited to such cases, the provision provides a route for adults who were raised in care and who may have missed a time-limited opportunity to register as British citizens because the necessary action was not taken on their behalf.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have requested a suspension of the EU Entry/Exit System during peak periods in 2026; and whether they have had any discussions with the European Union about easing delays for non-EU citizens currently experiencing additional border checks.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided by the Minister of State for Europe on 28 April in response to Question HC129419, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU scheme introduced to register travellers from third countries each time they enter or leave the Schengen area. While the UK is supportive of the aims of EES to improve border security, we want to see EES implemented in a way that minimises negative impacts on border fluidity. The Government is actively engaging EU and Member State counterparts on EES and has worked with industry partners to encourage clear communications to travellers. We continue to monitor implementation closely and keep Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Travel Advice updated. I have raised issues around EES implementation with multiple ministerial counterparts over recent months, and we continue to keep the situation in all Schengen member states under close review, raising issues as appropriate.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the European Union regarding delays for UK citizens as a result of additional checks since the launch of the EU Entry/Exit System in October 2025.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided by the Minister of State for Europe on 28 April in response to Question HC129419, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU scheme introduced to register travellers from third countries each time they enter or leave the Schengen area. While the UK is supportive of the aims of EES to improve border security, we want to see EES implemented in a way that minimises negative impacts on border fluidity. The Government is actively engaging EU and Member State counterparts on EES and has worked with industry partners to encourage clear communications to travellers. We continue to monitor implementation closely and keep Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Travel Advice updated. I have raised issues around EES implementation with multiple ministerial counterparts over recent months, and we continue to keep the situation in all Schengen member states under close review, raising issues as appropriate.

Found: Lord Dubs Lord Empey Lord Foster of Bath (Chair) Lord Hogan-Howe Baroness Hughes of Stretford Lord Moraes

Found: Lord Moraes  No relevant interests to declare.

Found: Lord Moraes  No relevant interests to declare.

Found: Baroness Buscombe Lord Dubs Lord Empey Lord Foster of Bath (Chair) Baroness Hughes of Stretford Lord Moraes

Found: Baroness Buscombe Lord Dubs Lord Empey Lord Foster of Bath (Chair) Baroness Hughes of Stretford Lord Moraes

Found: Lord Moraes: I did not want to conflate the two things.

Found: Berridge; Baroness Bertin; Baroness Buscombe; Lord Dubs; Lord Empey; Baroness Hughes of Stretford; Lord Moraes

Found: Berridge; Baroness Bertin; Baroness Buscombe; Lord Dubs; Lord Empey; Baroness Hughes of Stretford; Lord Moraes

Found: Leeds, Baroness Lloyd of Effra Former: Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Lord Moraes

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee is undertaking a short investigation into support for jurors in England and Wales, focusing on the health and mental health impact of the experience of being a juror.