Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has held discussions with the EU on waiving the need for passports for school groups visiting the UK as part of his negotiations on a youth experience scheme.

We recognise the importance of cultural and educational exchanges between UK and other nations. Any decisions relating to our policy on school trip travel must be made with due regard to the proper functioning of our immigration system. The UK and France agreed measures in 2023 which made UK-France school trip travel easier. These arrangements were agreed as part of a wider package of measures. A similar agreement with Germany has also been reached, as part of the wider UK-Germany Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation Treaty, which was signed by the Prime Minister in London on 17 July.

These arrangements are separate from our discussions with the EU regarding a youth experience scheme.