Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to ensure that EU nationals applying for a place on a UK university course will not face additional migration barriers throughout any transitional period after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, states that in order to help provide certainty for EU students starting courses as we implement the UK’s exit, current EU students and those starting courses at a university or FE institution in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 academic years, will have a right to remain in the UK to complete their course.
We are considering the options for our future immigration system very carefully. As part of that, it is important that we understand the impacts of different options on different sectors of the economy, including universities, and on specific groups such as students. We will be outlining further details of the new future immigration system in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy that applications for settled status of EU academics working in UK universities will not be affected by the time spent outside of the UK to support their research activity.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
As set out in paragraph 20 of the Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), settled status would generally be lost if a person was absent from the UK for more than two years, unless they have strong ties here.
Both the UK and EU’s position - as set out in the joint technical note on citizens’ rights available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-technical-note-on-the-comparison-of-eu-uk-positions-on-citizens-rights - is that in identifying the necessary five years’ continuous residence to acquire settled status, the definition of continuity of residence should reflect Article 16 (3) of Directive 2004/38, which permits absences of six months in any 12 months, or 12 months for an important reason, for example studying or being posted abroad.
We will publish more details of the new scheme, including details of eligibility criteria, in due course once an agreement has been reached.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to ensure that it will have the capacity efficiently to process short-term work visas for EU residents in the creative industries wishing to do project work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government is considering a range of options for the future immigration arrangements that will apply after the UK leaves the EU. The Home Office constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government’s agenda. Any resultant changes to resource requirements will be factored into strategic planning.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received from the creative industries about the provision of cultural and educational permits to EU residents after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government is considering a range of options for the immigration system for EU citizens after the UK leaves the EU. Since the Referendum result last year, Ministers have been undertaking an extensive programme of engagement and evidence gathering with all interested parties including business, industry, trade unions, educational institutions and many others. On 27 July, my RHF the Home Secretary also commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to advise on current patterns of EU migration across all sectors, and the role of migration in the wider economy and society.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's publication entitled The United Kingdom's Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU, published on 26 June 2017, when the length of the grace period referred to in paragraph 24 will be specified for EU nationals resident in the UK at the time the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out our proposals that European Union (EU) citizens who arrive in the UK before the specified date and have five years’ continuous residence in the UK will be able to apply for UK settled status.
We will publish further detail on the specifics of the new application process for settled status, including specifying the length of the grace period, in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper The United Kingdom's Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the position of EU Citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU, published on 26 June 2017, whether non-family members with dependent British adults or children retain the right to reside in the UK following the country's exit from the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out our proposals that European Union (EU) citizens who arrive in the UK before the specified date and have five years’ continuous residence in the UK will be able to apply for UK settled status.
Work is underway to assess the proposed resources and costs required to implement the new settled status scheme.
The details of the settled status scheme will be subject to negotiations and a reciprocal deal with the EU. We will publish further detail on the specifics of the new application process for settled status, including detailed eligibility criteria, in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's publication The United Kingdom's Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU, published on 26 June 2017, what the effect is on an EU national's settled status of working for a UK employer outside the UK for more than two years.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out our proposals that European Union (EU) citizens who arrive in the UK before the specified date and have five years’ continuous residence in the UK will be able to apply for UK settled status.
Work is underway to assess the proposed resources and costs required to implement the new settled status scheme.
The details of the settled status scheme will be subject to negotiations and a reciprocal deal with the EU. We will publish further detail on the specifics of the new application process for settled status, including detailed eligibility criteria, in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's publication The United Kingdom's Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU, published on 26 June 2017, in which languages EU nationals seeking settled status in the UK will be able to submit an application.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out our proposals that European Union (EU) citizens who arrive in the UK before the specified date and have five years’ continuous residence in the UK will be able to apply for UK settled status.
Work is underway to assess the proposed resources and costs required to implement the new settled status scheme.
The details of the settled status scheme will be subject to negotiations and a reciprocal deal with the EU. We will publish further detail on the specifics of the new application process for settled status, including detailed eligibility criteria, in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's publication The United Kingdom's Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU, published on 26 June 2017, how many civil servants will be needed to administer the immigration system proposed for EU nationals after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out our proposals that European Union (EU) citizens who arrive in the UK before the specified date and have five years’ continuous residence in the UK will be able to apply for UK settled status.
Work is underway to assess the proposed resources and costs required to implement the new settled status scheme.
The details of the settled status scheme will be subject to negotiations and a reciprocal deal with the EU. We will publish further detail on the specifics of the new application process for settled status, including detailed eligibility criteria, in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's publication The United Kingdom's Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU, published on 26 June 2017, what estimate she has made of the costs of implementing the proposed immigration system for EU nationals after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out our proposals that European Union (EU) citizens who arrive in the UK before the specified date and have five years’ continuous residence in the UK will be able to apply for UK settled status.
Work is underway to assess the proposed resources and costs required to implement the new settled status scheme.
The details of the settled status scheme will be subject to negotiations and a reciprocal deal with the EU. We will publish further detail on the specifics of the new application process for settled status, including detailed eligibility criteria, in due course.