Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse is of not extending the (a) fee for applications to enter or remain in the UK, (b) fee for sponsorship licenses, (c) immigration health surcharges, (d) immigration skills charges in relation EU citizens in the UK who have will no longer have the right of free movement after the transition period.

Further analysis into the impact of the ending of free movement in the UK on EEA and Swiss citizens is currently underway and will be published at a later date.

The Border, Immigration and Citizenship System (BICS) is predominately funded by the user. The Home Office believes it is right those who use it contribute to its cost, thereby reducing the burden on the UK taxpayer. Income collected from the Immigration Skills charge is used to address skills gaps in the UK workforce and income generated by Immigration Health Surcharge payments go directly to NHS services, helping to protect and sustain our world-class healthcare system for everyone who uses it.

EU citizens in the UK have access to the EU Settlement Scheme, which is open until 30 June 2021 and is free of charge for eligible individuals. An Impact Assessment for the EU Settlement Scheme was published and can be found at:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2019/74/pdfs/ukia_20190074_en.pdf