Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost of extending legal aid to EEA and Swiss nationals to enable them to apply for rights to enter and remain in the UK after the transition period.

The legal aid scheme is designed to target legal aid at those who need it most. Publicly-funded immigration legal advice is available to particularly vulnerable individuals such as victims of modern slavery. Legal aid may also be available through the Exceptional Case Funding scheme, subject to the relevant criteria being met.

Therefore, no estimate has been made as to the cost of extending legal aid to EEA and Swiss nationals to apply for rights to enter and remain in the UK after the transition period.