The Home Office has engaged with international carriers on the use of eVisas through direct communications, carrier forums and awareness sessions, and continues to do so. Carriers can verify a passenger's permission to travel through digital checks against Home Office systems and have access to operational guidance and support.

The UK Carrier Support Hub operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist with status checks where required. eVisa holders are advised to keep their UKVI account up to date and ensure the passport or travel document they intend to use for travel is linked to their account. More than 10 million eVisas have been issued and most people use them with no issues.

When you make a cut to your development assistance, you can spend less—that is just a fact. I was unable to find 40% reductions for programmes that were not doing good or having an impact and that nobody would notice. Of course, I am happy to acknowledge that now, as I have done on many occasions.

The Facial Age Estimation (FAE) procurement outcome was delayed due to a testing and evaluation phase taking longer than originally anticipated.

This work has now concluded, and subject to the completion of a mandatory standstill period and contract signature, a formal contract award notice will be issued shortly.

As the noble Baroness will know, it is important that we get the first decision right, because it is important for the person who is applying and for the process and the cost, as she mentioned. Student visa decisions are made by trained caseworkers, who apply the Immigration Rules and are supported by clear guidance, quality assurance and oversight. Original performance decisions are kept under continual review. I hope that we can, over time, improve the decision-making process.

Information sought is withheld for reason of commercial sensitivities.

The procurement is now concluded, and we are preparing to inform bidders. A published contract award notice will follow thereafter.

In the Government’s Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025, we committed to strengthening the age assessment process. As set out in the statement on Restoring Order and Control, the Home Office has since commissioned trials to identify the most promising scientific and technological methods. This includes exploring how artificial intelligence technology can improve the process. Early assessment suggests that Facial Age Estimation is effective and could produce workable results much quicker than other potential methods, such as bone X-rays or MRI scans, and at a fraction of the cost.

As part of our testing of Facial Age Estimation, industry algorithms have been used to test its performance against approximately 2.5 million images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges. Further tests are planned throughout 2026.

Those who claimed asylum or made further submissions before 2 March 2026, and who are eligible for protection, will receive 5 years’ permission to stay in accordance with the transitional arrangements included in the Immigration Rules laid on 5 March 2026.

Refugees approaching the end of their 5 years’ permission remain eligible to apply under Appendix Settlement Protection.

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years. Other family routes remain available including Appendix FM, and cases lodged before the suspension continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the suspension, we are undertaking a review of the route, along with the wider family rules, to place the system on a more sustainable footing. Further information about forthcoming changes will follow in due course

The Home Office maintains regular engagement with a wide range of stakeholders on asylum and immigration matters, including providing updates on policy developments. As with any change, we recognise that there may be impacts arising from the package of reforms on organisations supporting asylum seekers and refugees.  We will maintain our regular engagement and on-going work with, for example, local authorities, Non-Government Organisations and other stakeholders.

Children are not a homogeneous cohort, and careful consideration will be given as to how children will be impacted when policy frameworks are applied in respect of them, in line with Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We will work with external stakeholders to shape policy development, including elements which will impact children. Whilst the changes take place the Government will continue to protect the welfare and best interests of children, including refugees

This Government is committed to supporting refugees and those granted protection in the UK to fully integrate and contribute to British economy and society, in a way that promotes community cohesion. All refugees and those granted protection in the UK should be able to fully integrate into life here and become self-sufficient, providing for themselves and their families, and contributing to the economy.

Those who claimed asylum or made further submissions before 2 March 2026, and who are eligible for protection, will receive 5 years’ permission to stay in accordance with the transitional arrangements included in the Immigration Rules laid on 5 March 2026.

Refugees approaching the end of their 5 years’ permission remain eligible to apply under Appendix Settlement Protection.

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years. Other family routes remain available including Appendix FM, and cases lodged before the suspension continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the suspension, we are undertaking a review of the route, along with the wider family rules, to place the system on a more sustainable footing. Further information about forthcoming changes will follow in due course

The Home Office maintains regular engagement with a wide range of stakeholders on asylum and immigration matters, including providing updates on policy developments. As with any change, we recognise that there may be impacts arising from the package of reforms on organisations supporting asylum seekers and refugees.  We will maintain our regular engagement and on-going work with, for example, local authorities, Non-Government Organisations and other stakeholders.

Children are not a homogeneous cohort, and careful consideration will be given as to how children will be impacted when policy frameworks are applied in respect of them, in line with Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We will work with external stakeholders to shape policy development, including elements which will impact children. Whilst the changes take place the Government will continue to protect the welfare and best interests of children, including refugees

This Government is committed to supporting refugees and those granted protection in the UK to fully integrate and contribute to British economy and society, in a way that promotes community cohesion. All refugees and those granted protection in the UK should be able to fully integrate into life here and become self-sufficient, providing for themselves and their families, and contributing to the economy.

Those who claimed asylum or made further submissions before 2 March 2026, and who are eligible for protection, will receive 5 years’ permission to stay in accordance with the transitional arrangements included in the Immigration Rules laid on 5 March 2026.

Refugees approaching the end of their 5 years’ permission remain eligible to apply under Appendix Settlement Protection.

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years. Other family routes remain available including Appendix FM, and cases lodged before the suspension continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the suspension, we are undertaking a review of the route, along with the wider family rules, to place the system on a more sustainable footing. Further information about forthcoming changes will follow in due course

The Home Office maintains regular engagement with a wide range of stakeholders on asylum and immigration matters, including providing updates on policy developments. As with any change, we recognise that there may be impacts arising from the package of reforms on organisations supporting asylum seekers and refugees.  We will maintain our regular engagement and on-going work with, for example, local authorities, Non-Government Organisations and other stakeholders.

Children are not a homogeneous cohort, and careful consideration will be given as to how children will be impacted when policy frameworks are applied in respect of them, in line with Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We will work with external stakeholders to shape policy development, including elements which will impact children. Whilst the changes take place the Government will continue to protect the welfare and best interests of children, including refugees

This Government is committed to supporting refugees and those granted protection in the UK to fully integrate and contribute to British economy and society, in a way that promotes community cohesion. All refugees and those granted protection in the UK should be able to fully integrate into life here and become self-sufficient, providing for themselves and their families, and contributing to the economy.