Massive child registration fees ‘risk another Windrush scandal’
HOME OFFICE fees to register children as British citizens are a “Windrush scandal in the making”, Ministers have been warned.
Liberal Democrat former leader Tim Farron said people faced charges of more than £1,000 to register children as citizens in the UK, which he described as “profiteering at the expense of young people”.
The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, speaking during Home Office questions, said: “The Home Office charges over a thousand pounds for children to register as British citizens, including children born here and those who moved here in infancy.
“Isn’t this profiteering at the expense of young people seeking to pledge their future to Britain?
“Isn’t this another Windrush scandal in the making with people not getting the documents now that officials will rely on in the future? The Home Secretary knows that he faces a legal challenge on this so would he do the right thing now and end these excessive charges?”
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I have to disagree with (Mr Farron) – it is right there’s a balance between the cost faced by individuals making applications and the cost faced by the taxpayer. I think it is sensible to keep those under review and if costs are changed it’s right that Parliament makes that decision.”
The SNP’s Patrick Grady went on to ask: “Is the Home Secretary really proud of making over a £100 million profit for the Home Office in the last five years out of these charges?”
Mr Javid replied: “This revenue that is being generated is being used to provide public services, not just to those people who are making applications, but supporting wider public services.”
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott later asked about delays on visa responses.
She raised the case of a constituent who she said had submitted an application for further leave in 2005 and her application is still outstanding 13 years later.