Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether children of single parent families would fall within the provisions of article 10(1)(e)(iii) of the draft agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU in circumstances where the custody of a child has been disputed.

It is the Government’s intention to implement this aspect of the Withdrawal Agreement in the UK by way of the EU Settlement Scheme, which will allow EU citizens living in the UK before we leave the EU to apply for status to remain once the UK has left. However, when determining the custody of a child in the UK whether or not the parent is a single parent is not a relevant factor. It will continue to be the case that the court with jurisdiction will decide on custody (with whom the child is to live and when) on the facts of the individual case.