The UK and EU agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced Youth Experience Scheme.

We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement and time-limited, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing discussions.

We are working towards concluding negotiations on the Youth Experience Scheme by the time of the next EU-UK summit.

The government has not made a formal assessment of the impact of the EU Entry/Exit System on freight movements through the short straits as this is an EU system. Hauliers have completed EES checks since October at the short straits portals of Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover. We continue to encourage road transport operators to take the necessary steps to ensure their UK national drivers remain within the Schengen area’s short stay limit for days spent in Europe.

The government knows the importance of freight to our supply chains and to people across the UK. That is why we have supported the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel with £3.5m each in preparing for EES. And earlier this week we announced £20m in funding to further support border infrastructure at the Port of Dover, while continuing to urge pragmatism from our EU partners, while the system beds in.

The Entry/Exit System has been introduced by the European Union to increase border security and we have consistently sought to urge pragmatism to ensure that British travellers do not face disruption, The Transport Secretary has spoken with the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Travel and Tourism on the matter.

It is, however, inevitable that any new system faces challenges and passengers should not be inconvenienced as this system settles into operation. In July, I met with cross channel ferry operators and reminded them of their obligations to passengers should disruption occur and would encourage any passengers affected by delays at the border to speak with their operators.

The Secretary of State met with the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas on 13 July. This was a productive call where both agreed on the need to work together to aim for smooth EES checks over the peak summer period to support holidaymakers.

This follows previous engagement with both the Commissioner and the French Transport Minister seeking agreement on increasing staffing levels to support the implementation of EES.

I refer the Noble Lord to the FCDO travel advice for Gibraltar: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/gibraltar/entry-requirements UK citizens entering Gibraltar must have a passport issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after they depart either Gibraltar or the Schengen Area. They can spend up to 90 days in Gibraltar without a visa. This period will count towards the 90-day limit in any 180-day period for time spent in the Schengen Area. On arriving at the airport, they undergo two checks: Gibraltar immigration controls performed by the Gibraltar authorities, and Schengen immigration controls performed by the Spanish authorities.

As set out in the published Impact Assessment accompanying the Immigration and Asylum Bill, detailed plans including costs for the new authority are currently being developed. Further information will be shared in due course.

The Government takes its safeguarding responsibilities towards children extremely seriously.

Unaccompanied children may only be detained in very limited and exceptional circumstances, and the law places strict constraints on that detention. They may not be held in an Immigration Removal Centre under any circumstances. They must be transferred into appropriate local authority care arrangements wherever possible. An unaccompanied child may only be held in a short-term holding facility for a maximum of 24 hours for the purpose of removal.

A range of safeguards are in place to minimise detention and protect child welfare. These include the requirement to prioritise cases involving children, early referral to and engagement with local authority children’s services, a statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote children’s welfare, and a requirement that detention is for the shortest time necessary. Decisions involving children are subject to oversight and operational guidance that is subject to ongoing review and updates to ensure the welfare and best interests of children remain a primary consideration.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Statistics on Returns from the UK are published quarterly. The latest release shows that there were a total of 39,000 returns from the UK in the year ending March 2026.

Passport checks for British citizens in EU countries remain a matter for individual member states.

The Government continues to engage the European Commission and European countries to understand the new border process changes and to promote flexible, pragmatic solutions for UK travellers.

This response has been coordinated by the department in collaboration with the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Criteria for 2026 support are still being finalised and will be published in a policy statement in due course.

In 2025, eligible students secured a range of fully funded scholarships to study at UK universities. Standard departure costs, including flights, accommodation and insurance, were met through a combination of scholarship and university funding.

Additionally, Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding may be used to support transport costs associated with the initial journey from Gaza. The proportion of costs met through ODA funding for the 2026 cohort will depend on the number of students travelling.

No separate estimate of costs has been made. Unit costs for visa applications are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.

The number of students supported will depend on operational considerations, and is highly dependent on factors outside the UK government’s control. In 2025, the government supported more than 100 fully funded scholarship students to arrive and study in the UK.

Students come to the UK on standard student visas, which allow them to stay for the duration of their course and a short period afterwards. Any further stay in the UK would be subject to the Immigration Rules.

Ministers and officials from across the Government, including myself, regularly engage the EU and EU Member State counterparts on a range of issues affecting UK nationals. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.

The UK and the EU allow for visa-free, short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens visa-free travel for up to six months; the EU allows for visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period which is standard for third nationals travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State.

Arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time. The number of arrivals will be carefully managed to align with the UK’s capacity to support refugees.

To prevent abuse of the routes, the Home Office will assess all applications to ensure that only those who meet the eligibility requirements can access them. Refugee status will be determined in partnership with the UNHCR, and all applicants will be subject to appropriate security, identity, and background checks before arrival in the UK.

The Home Office will also retain control over who can sponsor, setting clear criteria to be met by sponsor groups and undertaking monitoring and assurance to ensure sponsorship arrangements are safe, effective and deliver positive outcomes. Where concerns about misuse, fraud or non-compliance are identified, appropriate action will be taken.

Arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time. The number of arrivals will be carefully managed to align with the UK’s capacity to support refugees.

To prevent abuse of the routes, the Home Office will assess all applications to ensure that only those who meet the eligibility requirements can access them. Refugee status will be determined in partnership with the UNHCR, and all applicants will be subject to appropriate security, identity, and background checks before arrival in the UK.

The Home Office will also retain control over who can sponsor, setting clear criteria to be met by sponsor groups and undertaking monitoring and assurance to ensure sponsorship arrangements are safe, effective and deliver positive outcomes. Where concerns about misuse, fraud or non-compliance are identified, appropriate action will be taken.

The Government keeps eGate eligibility under review to ensure we are balancing border security and passenger flow. We have recently passed legislation to lower the eGate eligible age from 10 to 8 years old for those nationals who can currently use eGates to enter the UK.

We are continuing to explore options to increase the use of automation and eGates at the UK border, including to British National (Overseas) passport holders.