Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report, EU Settlement Scheme Private Beta 1, published on 31 October 2018, what assessment he has made of the reasons why 12 per cent of applications were waiting for a decision as at 30 October 2018; and what the average length of time has been to reach a decision in each of those cases.

The remaining cases that are yet to be decided are awaiting responses from applicants where we have contacted them for further information to confirm the leave that they qualify for. We recognise that applicants may lack documentary evidence for assorted reasons, we are committed to working flexibly with applicants to help them evidence their continuous residence in the UK by the best means available to them.

Caseworkers will be able to exercise discretion in favour of the applicants where appropriate, to avoid unnecessary administrative burdens and delays. In addition, we have created a new helpline specifically for the settlement scheme and are working with applicants to help them avoid any errors or omissions we are looking for reasons to grant applications, not refuse them.

In Private Beta Phase 1, the average time taken on all decisions was just under 9 calendar days, with the fastest application decision being made within 3 days.