Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what impact assessments they have conducted into the statutory good character requirement for children who register as British citizens; and whether they have undertaken any assessment of that requirement's impact on (1) children’s best interests, (2) race discrimination, and (3) race relations.

The good character requirement for children was subject to parliamentary scrutiny when it was introduced by Section 58 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. It has also been the subject of inspection by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI). In response to recommendations in his 2017 report a number of adjustments were made to the policy clarifying that a child’s best interests must be taken into account when considering an application for registration as a British citizen. Updated guidance to reflect these changes was published in January 2019.

In addition, the good character requirement was the subject of a Policy Equality Statement, demonstrating compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty, when the British Nationality Act 1981 (Remedial) Order 2019 was laid.