To ask Her Majesty's Government what considerations governed the decision to prevent retired persons of independent means with close connections with the United Kingdom being able to apply to retire in the United Kingdom whilst elderly dependent relatives, who live alone abroad, will be able to return. [HL85]

The reforms we are making to the immigration system will ensure that all future citizens must demonstrate they have earned the right to remain here permanently. We believe it is right to remove the retired persons of independent means route due to the limited numbers entering on it and because the amount of disposable income they had may not match the demands they place on public services.

We continue to believe it is right to allow a parent or grandparent aged 65 or over to come to the UK in the limited circumstances where they are financially dependent on the relative present and settled in the UK and have no other close relatives in their own country to turn to for financial support.