§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which European Union member states refuse to accept the certificate of identity as a valid travel document; [1102]
(2) how many certificates of identity were issued between 1 May 1997 and 7 June 2001 to grantees of exceptional leave to remain. [1101]
§ Angela EagleThe Home Office certificate of identity (CID) is a travel document issued to foreign nationals who are resident in the United Kingdom and cannot obtain a passport from their national authorities. The majority of people issued with CIDs have applied unsuccessfully for asylum, but subsequently been granted exceptional leave to remain for a limited period. Between 1 May 1997 and 7 June 2001, the Home Office issued 58,454 CIDs. Separate records are not kept of the number of CIDs issued to persons with current exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom as opposed to those with indefinite leave to remain.
The certificate of identity is issued on a discretionary basis, not under an international convention. European Union member states are not obliged to recognise the document. Those member states which do not do so, and generally do not issue travel visas to CID holders, include France, Germany, Greece and Spain.