Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Emma Lewell-Buck and Robin Walker

Thursday 4th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Robin Walker]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question—it is important to make sure the scheme works as effectively and smoothly as possible. The Home Office is providing assisted digital support over the phone from more than 200 centres throughout the UK, and at home with a trained tutor. Applicants can have their identity verified by the identity document checkout at more than 50 locations, one of which I am pleased to see is in my constituency, as well as by post. I am pleased that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary confirmed recently that Apple has said it will make the identity document check available on its devices by the end of the year.

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

T7. The Government have been warned that EU nationals’ children who are looked-after or care leavers will fall through the gap when it comes to the settling of their status. These are vulnerable children in the care of the state, yet the Government, their corporate parent, do not even know how many of them there are and are refusing to give them automatic settled status or to waive the fees of those eligible for citizenship. Why is that?

[Mr Walker]

I absolutely disagree with the hon. Lady about the Government’s attitude to this group. We want to ensure that all those who are eligible for settled status, particularly children, are given a smooth and orderly process. I am certainly happy to take up her concerns with the Home Office, but I do not agree that the Government do not take their responsibilities in this regard extremely seriously.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Emma Lewell-Buck and Robin Walker

Thursday 1st February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Walker]

Absolutely; I can give that assurance. It is very important that we do secure the agreement based on the joint report and that that secures the position on the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom.

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

2. What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU customs union on the economy.