Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of seniority the Official holds who was responsible for signing-off deportation letters which were erroneously sent by her Department to EU citizens lawfully living in the UK.

There has been no policy change with regards to EEA citizens living in the UK and the Home Office is absolutely clear that the rights of EEA citizens living in the UK remain unchanged. It is Home Office policy that any person who is not lawfully resident in the UK is liable for removal and may be notified accordingly by the Home Office. I regret that, in this instance, officials made an operational error and issued enforcement letters incorrectly.

The Home Office acted swiftly to correct the error and I have personally written to all those affected to apologise for any stress or concern that this caused.