The government announced that, from 2 April 2007, anyone seeking permanent settlement in the United Kingdom would have to pass a test proving they understood the UK and the English language.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 4 December 2006, column 6WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Home Office press release | IAS press release
Date: 2006-Dec
An article said that a conditional approach to rights dominated New Labour's perspective, not only in the delivery of welfare for full citizens but also in relation to immigration, where rights were a privilege to be earned by meeting labour market needs. This approach did not readily address the position of asylum-seekers, who were claiming an absolute right of protection: an erosion of entitlement during status determination had been used as a means of deterrence and control.
Source: Lydia Morris, 'New Labour's community of rights: welfare, immigration and asylum', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 36 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Dec
The government announced plans to create an independent inspectorate for immigration, responsible for monitoring the overall effectiveness of the Home Office's immigration and nationality directorate, the quality of its decisions, the use of its enforcement powers, and its treatment of individuals.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 19 December 2006, column 123WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Refugee Council press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Dec
The government published two strategic action plans on the use of technology to crack down on illegal immigration The plans called for the introduction of biometric registration for foreign nationals on a rolling basis starting in 2008. But plans for a new computer system to support identity cards were scrapped in favour of an amalgamation of existing ones.
Source: Strategic Action Plan for the National Identity Scheme: Safeguarding your identity, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | Borders, Immigration and Identity Action Plan: Using the national identity scheme to strengthen our borders and enforce compliance within the UK, Home Office
Links: National identity scheme plan | Borders action plan | Home Office press release | Hansard | BBC report | Guardian report | FT report
Date: 2006-Dec
A consultants' report said that migrant workers were essential to the United Kingdom economy and could be a key driver of future economic growth - provided businesses fully utilized the skills on offer.
Source: Attracting Talent, Experian (0115 968 5009)
Links: Experian press releases
Date: 2006-Dec
A taskforce report recommended a range of measures designed to deliver more timely, comprehensive official statistics covering both long- and short-term migration.
Source: Report of the Inter-departmental Task Force on Migration Statistics, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | Summary | ONS press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Dec
The government responded to a report by a joint committee of MPs and peers on human trafficking. It said that it was developing an action plan on tackling human trafficking which it intended to publish early in 2007.
Source: Human Trafficking: The government reply to the twenty-sixth report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Cm 6996, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Date: 2006-Dec
The number of people who applied for asylum in the third quarter of 2006 was 5,850 (7 per cent higher than the previous quarter, but 7 per cent lower than a year earlier). The government missed its target of ensuring that the number of failed applicants removed every quarter exceeded the number of new claimants expected to be turned down.
Source: Asylum Statistics: Third Quarter 2006 - United Kingdom, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Report | Home Office press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Nov
The government announced (in the Queen's Speech) that it would introduce a Border and Immigration Bill. The Bill would give increased powers for immigration officers to enforce compliance with immigration laws - including new powers of arrest, cash seizure, and forfeiture and disposal of assets, and improved data-sharing arrangements with HM Revenue and Customs. It would make it explicit that there would be an automatic presumption of deportation for those who committed serious crimes. It would also simplify the appeals system to enable swifter deportation to take place.
Source: Queen's Speech, House of Commons Hansard, 15 November 2006, column 1, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Speech | Downing Street Briefing | Times report | FT report (1) | FT report (2) | BBC report (1) | BBC report (2) | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Nov
In 2005, 565,000 people arrived in the United Kingdom saying they intended to stay for at least a year. In the same period, 380,000 people left, more than half of whom were British citizens. The net inflow of people was 17,000 lower than in 2004.
Source: Press release 2 November 2006, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: ONS press release | OPT press release | FT report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the new points-based system for economic migration from countries outside the European Economic Area. It said that the scheme was in danger of both defeating the government s objective of ending poverty in developing countries and undermining a culture of non-discrimination and equality in the United Kingdom.
Source: The Points-based System: Can it really make labour migration work for Britain?, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (020 7251 8708)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the role of community development in the integration of refugees and the promotion of cohesive communities.
Source: Alison Navarro, Refugee Integration and Cohesive Communities: Community development in practice, Community Development Foundation (020 7226 5375)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
Researchers examined the views of refugees on the services provided by two funds focusing on the social needs in refugee communities.
Source: Susie Macdonald and Helen Barnard, Evaluating ERF and Challenge Fund Services Report, Online Report 22/06, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
The government began consultation on the role of the new Migration Advisory Committee, intended to provide independent advice on migration, including on where shortages in skills and labour should be met by migration. It invited views on: whether the government needed an independent organization to offer advice on migration; and whether the MAC should take into account economic impacts when giving advice on immigration.
Source: A Consultation on Establishing a Migration Advisory Committee, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation document | Home Office press release | BBC report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the treatment of separated and trafficked children seeking asylum within the United Kingdom. It found that there was a 'culture of disbelief' in relation to the accounts given by children.
Source: Jacqueline Bhabha and Nadine Finch, 'Seeking Asylum Alone' UK, Garden Court Chambers (020 7993 7671)
Links: Report | Garden Court press release
Date: 2006-Nov
A report said that a growing number of failed asylum-seekers were remaining in the United Kingdom without any financial or medical support.
Source: The Destitution Trap: Asylum s untold story, Amnesty International UK (020 7814 6241) and Refugee Action
Links: Report | Amnesty press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Nov
The government announced that the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (a scheme designed to attract well-qualified workers) was to be suspended for 27 days while its rules were tightened to curb widespread abuse. It said that an increasing number of applications had been made using bogus documents or without any supporting evidence.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 7 November 2006, columns 39-41WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Home Office press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Nov
An article examined the impact on, and use of, health services by international migrants (based on a survey of accident and emergency attenders in inner London). Recently arrived migrants were a diverse and substantial group, of whom migrants from refugee-generating countries and asylum-seekers comprised only a minority group. Service reorganization to ensure improved access to community-based family doctors, and delivery of more appropriate care, might lessen their impact on acute services.
Source: Sally Hargreaves et al., 'Impact on and use of health services by international migrants: questionnaire survey of inner city London A&E attenders', BMC Health Services Research, Volume 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Nov
The Welsh Assembly Government began consultation on a three-year strategy for achieving refugee inclusion in Wales.
Source: Refugee Inclusion Strategy: Consultation document, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Consultation document | Consultation document (Welsh) | Summary
Date: 2006-Nov
A report by a government agency said that there was generally a low rate of infectious disease among migrants in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, although the majority of patients newly diagnosed with HIV, TB and malaria were born outside the United Kingdom.
Source: Migrant Health: Infectious diseases in non-UK born populations in England, Wales & Northern Ireland, Health Protection Agency (020 7339 1300)
Links: Report | HPA press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Nov
An article said that there were 1.505 million foreign migrants working in the United Kingdom in 2005, 5.4 per cent of the employed population. The foreign workforce was generally employed in more highly-skilled occupations than the domestic workforce.
Source: John Salt and Jane Millar, 'Foreign labour in the United Kingdom: current patterns and trends', Labour Market Trends, October 2006, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2006-Oct
The government agency for the further education sector set out its operational priorities for 2007-08. It said that English for speakers of other languages would no longer attract automatic fee remission - meaning that adult asylum-seekers who were awaiting the outcome of applications to stay in the United Kingdom would not qualify for free English language training (or subsidized further education of any kind).
Source: Raising Our Game: Our annual statement of priorities, Learning and Skills Council (0870 900 6800)
Links: Report | LSC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report examined the issues of poverty and destitution in Scotland as experienced by asylum seekers, refugees, and the host community.
Source: Poverty and Asylum in Scotland, Poverty Alliance (0141 353 0440)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
An article said that large inflows of migrant workers had provided a significant boost to United Kingdom economic growth since 1997.
Source: Martin Weale and Rebecca Riley, 'Immigration and its effects', National Institute Economic Review Volume 198 Number 1, National Institute for Economic and Social Research (020 7654 1901)
Links: Contents page | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Oct
The government announced that lower-skilled workers coming to the United Kingdom from Romania and Bulgaria (after the accession of those countries to the European Union on 1 January 2007) would only be able to work in the food processing and agricultural sectors. Businesses in other areas would have to prove they needed workers before immigration was permitted. The controls would be reviewed after 12 months.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 24 October 2006, columns 82-84WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Home Office press release | TUC press release | CBI press release | Personnel Today report | Guardian report | Times report
Date: 2006-Oct
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on immigration control. It said that the Committee had come to broadly similar conclusions to the government's on many of the key challenges facing the immigration system.
Source: Immigration Control: The government reply to the fifth report from the Home Affairs Committee, Cm 6910, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2006-Sep
A report examined the growing problem of European migrant workers becoming homeless in Scotland. Migrant workers were making a significant contribution to the Scottish economy: but they were vulnerable to homelessness, and could have difficulty in accessing appropriate services. Their status as migrants could also make it complex for local authorities, and other service providers, to respond effectively to their needs.
Source: Homeless A8 Migrant Workers: The Scottish experience, Scottish Council for Single Homeless (0131 226 4382)
Links: Summary | SCSH press release
Date: 2006-Sep
An article examined the disagreement within the British elite over measures adopted to deter asylum-seekers. It said that, in their effect on individual liberty and universal welfare provision, recent immigration policies had departed from an earlier consensus on British values.
Source: Suke Wolton, 'Immigration policy and the "crisis of British values"', Citizenship Studies, Volume 10 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
Applications for asylum (excluding dependants) fell by 24 per cent in 2005, to 25,710.
Source: Tina Heath, Richard Jeffries and Sarah Pearce, Asylum Statistics: United Kingdom 2005, Statistical Bulletin 14/06, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Bulletin | Home Office press release
Date: 2006-Aug
A new book said that there was a linear ideological and political connexion between a century of immigration controls and the formation of the Blairite 'strong state'. The popular acceptance of brutal immigration controls allowed other authoritarian legislation to be enacted.
Source: Steve Cohen, Standing on the Shoulders of Fascism: From immigration control to the strong state, Trentham Books (01782 745567)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Aug
The Home Secretary announced the establishment of an independent national economic assessment of the United Kingdom's migration needs. A new migration advisory committee would assess where in the economy migration should 'sensibly fill skill gaps', and would draw up lists of shortage occupations.
Source: BBC interview with John Reid MP (Secretary of State for Home Affairs), 6 August 2006 Links: BBC report | Guardian report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Aug
By 30 June 2006 there had been 447,000 applications to the worker registration scheme for people from the 10 countries which joined the European Union in May 2004 - compared to an original government estimate of 15,000.
Source: Accession Monitoring Report: May 2004 June 2006, Home Office and other departments (web publication only)
Links: Report | Home Office press release | CIPD press release | IAS press release | CBI press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Aug
The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court ruling giving discretionary leave to stay to nine Afghan men who had hijacked an airliner and flown it to the United Kingdom in 2000. The government had argued that although the men could not be deported because of human rights issues, the Home Secretary could use immigration powers to impose 'temporary admission' status on them and curb their freedoms. But the court said that there had been ample time for the Home Secretary to get parliamentary backing for his actions, rather than just giving himself new powers.
Source: S and Others v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Court of Appeal 4 August 2006
Links: Text of judgement | Refugee Council press release | BBC report | Times report
Date: 2006-Aug
In 2004 there was an estimated net immigration to the United Kingdom of 223,000 migrants, almost 50 per cent higher than in 2003.
Source: Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2005, Cm 6904, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Home Office press release
Date: 2006-Aug
A report said that there should be a strategic review of the data, and data management systems, supporting the operation, monitoring, and development of all immigration controls. There was insufficient user consultation about the nature of the statistics.
Source: Denis Allnutt, Review of Home Office Publications of Control of Immigration Statistics, National Statistics Quality Review Series/Report 46, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report | IAS press release
Date: 2006-Aug
A discussion paper examined the specific experiences of refugees and asylum-seekers with social care needs. It also made a series of recommendations for services to meet their needs more effectively.
Source: Bharti Patel and Nancy Kelley, The Social Care Needs of Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Discussion paper | Summary
Date: 2006-Aug
A new book examined the diverse situations of refugee and asylum-seeking children in the United Kingdom - and the hostile reception that very often created barriers to their educational success.
Source: Jill Rutter, Refugee Children in the UK, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that the immigration rules should be consolidated and redrafted to provide a clear, comprehensive, and realistic framework for decisions. It also said that the government should establish an independent immigration inspectorate with oversight of every stage of immigration control.
Source: Immigration Control, Fifth Report (Session 2005-06), HC 775, House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
>Date: 2006-Jul
A report (by a group of Conservative MPs) said that unprecedented levels of immigration were damaging the quality of life of millions of Britons. Rocketing house prices, shortages of water, and creaking infrastructure could all be linked to immigration. Long working hours and high levels of family breakdown were being exacerbated by the high mortgage and rent payments driven by housing shortages.
Source: Julian Brazier, Rising Pressure: Immigration, population density and the problems of overcrowding, Cornerstone Group (mail@cornerstonegroup.org.uk)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jul
The government announced plans to reform the immigration system (following a review). There would be uniformed immigration officers at ports and airports; and by 2014 there would be passport checks to ensure there was a record of who had left the United Kingdom. The amount spent on enforcing immigration rules would be doubled by 2009-10.
Source: Fair, Effective, Transparent and Trusted: Rebuilding confidence in our immigration system, Immigration and Nationality Directorate/Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report | Home Office press release | Hansard | IAS press release | TUC press release | UUK press release | BCC press release | CBI press release | PCS press release | FT report | Times report | BBC report | Personnel Today report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jul
A campaign report condemned the policy of detaining asylum seeker children, and called for it to stop. It said that there were growing concerns over the psychological and physical impact of detention on children, and that it was contrary to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Source: John Bercow MP, Lord Dubs and Evan Harris MP (for the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Children and Refugees), Alternatives to Immigration Detention of Families and Children, No Place for a Child Campaign, c/o Save the Children (020 7703 5400)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jul
An article said that, despite good intentions and some localized successes, there were still many obstacles to refugee housing integration, arising from multiple gaps in provision, choice, and support.
Source: Deborah Phillips, 'Moving towards integration: the housing of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain', Housing Studies, Volume 21 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jul
A report examined existing and future migration trends. In 2004, an estimated 223,000 more people migrated to the United Kingdom than moved abroad a net inflow much higher than the previous year. Although foreign workers in the UK had generally been more skilled than the domestic workforce, there were signs that this might be changing, probably due to the new immigration from East European countries.
Source: John Salt and Phil Rees, Globalisation, Population Mobility and Impact of Migration on Population, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report | ESRC press release | Leeds University press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A report said that many migrant workers from East Europe were failing to find jobs that matched their experience and qualifications because of their poor English skills. Instead they got caught in the trap of low-paid, low-skilled, and temporary employment.
Source: Darshan Sachdev and Bethan Harries, Learning And Skills Planning and Provision for Migrants from the Accession States, Learning and Skills Network (020 7297 9000)
Links: Report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report said that all migrants who had lived in the United Kingdom for two years or more should eventually get the right to remain permanently, regardless of whether they were in the country lawfully.
Source: Recognising Rights, Recognising Political Realities: The case for regularising irregular migrants, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (020 7251 8708)
Links: Report | JCWI press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A report said that charities could do more to help refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into communities. Retraining highly qualified refugees so they could work in the United Kingdom could save taxpayers money and reduce tensions in local communities.
Source: Sarah Sandford and Tris Lumley, Home Truths: Adult refugees and asylum seekers - A guide for donors and funders, New Philanthropy Capital (0207 401 8080)
Links: Report | Summary | NPC press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A briefing paper (from a group opposed to large-scale immigration) said that the government s failure to face up to the consequences of the rise in immigration since 1997 was the principal cause of the housing shortfall. Because the scale of the increase in immigration had not (until very recently) been factored into the house building programme, it had exacerbated housing shortages and created serious issues of affordability that might continue for years.
Source: The Impact of Immigration on Housing Demand, MigrationwatchUK (01869 337007)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jun
A report said that charging failed asylum seekers for healthcare was having a devastating human impact, and the policy should be scrapped immediately.
Source: Nancy Kelley and Juliette Stevenson, First Do No Harm: Denying healthcare to people whose asylum claims have failed, Refugee Council (020 7820 3042)
Links: Report | Refugee Council press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jun
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that immigrants to the United Kingdom should "play by the rules" and learn to speak English in order to get work.
Source: Radio interview with Gordon Brown MP (Chancellor of the Exchequer), 5 June 2006 Links: BBC report
Date: 2006-Jun
A study found that Scottish public attitudes towards asylum seekers in Scotland were more tolerant than those in England.
Source: Miranda Lewis, Warm Welcome: Understanding attitudes to asylum seekers in Scotland, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Report | IPPR press release
Date: 2006-Jun
The government said that it intended to begin consultation on the policy framework for dealing with foreign nationals held in prison. The guiding principle would be that foreign nationals guilty of criminality should expect to be deported. (This statement followed the revelation that around 1,000 foreign nationals had been released from prison without consideration being given to their deportation.)
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 3 May 2006, columns 969-987, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
The number of people who applied for asylum in the first quarter of 2006 was 6,455 (4.7 per cent higher than the previous quarter, but 8 per cent lower than a year earlier).
Source: Asylum Statistics: 1st Quarter 2006 - United Kingdom, Home Office (020 7273 2084) | Press release 2006, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report | Home Office press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
A study examined the employment of migrants from East and Central Europe in low-wage occupations - agriculture, construction, hospitality, and au pair work - and what determined employer demand for migrant labour in these sectors. Employers valued highly qualified migrant workers for low-skilled and low-waged work: they preferred the 'work ethic' and reliability of migrant workers to employing reluctant United Kingdom nationals, whom some described as "lazy".
Source: Bridget Anderson, Martin Ruhs, Sarah Spencer and Ben Rogaly, Fair Enough? Central and East European migrants in low-wage employment in the UK, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release | COMPAS press release
Date: 2006-May
The newly appointed Home Secretary (John Reid MP) described his department's immigration operation as "not fit for purpose", with "inadequate" leadership and management systems. (He was speaking to a committee of MPs, following a series of administrative failures regarding the release of foreign nationals from prison and the detection of illegal immigrants.)
Source: The Guardian, 23 May 2006
Links: Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2006-May
The High Court ruled that measures to prevent 'sham' marriages discriminated against immigrants, and breached their human rights.
Source: Mahmoud Baiai and Izabela Trzcinska, Leonard Bigoku and Agolli Melek Tilki. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, High Court 10 Month 2006
Links: Text of judgement | Statement by judge | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Apr
The Court of Appeal ruled that two Dutch citizens who were not actively looking for work (because they had to look after their children) were entitled to council homes. The government responded by introducing regulations (effective from 20 April 2006) ensuring that nationals from the European Economic Area who did not have a right to reside in the United Kingdom were not eligible for council housing and homelessness assistance in England.
Source: Case of Ismael. Home Department, reported in The Guardian, 7 April 2006 | Press release 18 April 2006, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Guardian report | ODPM press release
Date: 2006-Apr
A report (by a group opposed to large-scale immigration) challenged the government's claim that migrants contributed ?2.5 billion more in taxes in 1999-2000 than they received in benefits and state services. It said that the calculations apportioned the costs of dependent children to the migrant populations only if both parents (or the sole parent) were foreign-born. After reapportioning the cost of children of 'mixed' households equally to the native and migrant populations, migrants actually contributed ?200 million less in taxes than they received in benefits and state services.
Source: The Fiscal Contribution of Migrants, MigrationwatchUK (01869 337007)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
The government admitted that between February 1999 and March 2006, 1,023 foreign national criminals, who should have been considered for deportation or removal, completed their prison sentences and were released without any consideration of deportation or removal action. It said that it was taking steps to remedy "shocking" administrative failings in the prison and immigration services.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 25 April 2006, columns 37-38WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Apr
In 2004, an estimated 223,000 more people migrated to the United Kingdom than migrated abroad. This was 72,000 higher than 2003, and was the highest net in-migration since the existing method of estimation began in 1991.
Source: International Migration: Migrants entering or leaving the United Kingdom and England and Wales, 2004, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | ONS press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined alternative theories for explaining attitudes towards immigrants, using the 2003 Northern Ireland component of the European Social Survey.
Source: Bernadette Hayes and Lizanne Dowds, 'Social contact, cultural marginality or economic self-interest? Attitudes towards immigrants in Northern Ireland', Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Volume 32 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
A think-tank report examined the policy options for managing irregular migration.
Source: Macha Farrant, Clare Grieve and Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
A report examined access to financial services among migrant workers. It discussed various ways in which access to financial services might be limited for ethnic minorities, and policies and practices that sought to overcome different forms of financial exclusion.
Source: Adele Atkinson, Migrants and Financial Services: A review of the situation in the United Kingdom, Personal Finance Research Centre/University of Bristol (0117 928 9954)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 was given Royal assent. The Act enabled the government to implement those parts of its five-year strategy for immigration and asylum (published in 2005) which required primary legislation. These included measures to restrict appeals for those refused entry to work or study, tackle illegal working through a new civil penalties scheme, and allow data sharing between the immigration, police, and customs services. The Act also reintroduced vouchers, rather than cash, as a means of financial support for failed asylum-seekers.
Source: Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | Home Office press release | Refugee Council press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that it would take between 10 and 18 years to clear the existing backlog of failed asylum-seekers by deporting them or returning them to their country of origin. More electronic tagging or detention needed to be considered.
Source: Returning Failed Asylum Applicants, Thirty-fourth Report (Session 2005-06), HC 620, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Conservative Party press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report said that the Home Office was failing to adhere to its own guidance on dealing with gender issues in asylum claims - such as complying with requests for female interviewers, and recognizing the forms of human rights abuses that women might have suffered, such as domestic violence or forced marriage.
Source: Sophia Ceneda and Clare Palmer, Lip Service or Implementation? The Home Office gender guidance and women s asylum claims in the United Kingdom, Asylum Aid (020 7377 5123)
Links: Report | Summary | Asylum Aid press release
Date: 2006-Mar
The government announced plans for a new points-based immigration system for workers from outside the European Union. The scheme was designed to make it easier for highly skilled, younger workers to enter the United Kingdom, but harder for low-skilled, non-European Union workers.
Source: A Points-Based System: Making migration work for Britain, Cm 6741, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Plan | Home Office press release | Hansard | TUC press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Mar
Researchers examined the recruitment and employment of migrant workers. Migrant workers had become an important source of labour, sometimes preferred over domestic (United Kingdom) workers, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, hotels and catering, and low-skill parts of administration, business and management.
Source: Sally Dench, Jennifer Hurstfield, Darcy Hill and Karen Akroyd, Employers' Use of Migrant Labour, Online Report 03/06, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Mar
Researchers found "no discernible statistical evidence" to suggest that migration from the new European Union countries had contributed to a rise in claimant unemployment.
Source: Nicola Gilpin, Matthew Henty, Sara Lemos, Jonathan Portes and Chris Bullen, The Impact of Free Movement of Workers from Central and Eastern Europe on the UK Labour Market, Working Paper 29, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Working paper
Date: 2006-Feb
A review highlighted a lack of knowledge and understanding about the situations of new immigrants experiencing social and economic disadvantage, and about how new immigration could affect local neighbourhoods. Many new immigrants benefited from living near people of the same ethnic background: but public policy increasingly viewed such ethnic clusters as problematic.
Source: David Robinson and Kesia Reeve, Neighbourhood Experiences of New Immigration: Reflections from the evidence base, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2006-Feb
Asylum applications fell in 2005 to their lowest level since 1994, and the number of failed asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom increased for the fourth consecutive quarter.
Source: Asylum Statistics: 4th Quarter 2005 - United Kingdom, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Report | Home Office press release | Refugee Council press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Feb
A study explored the interaction between migrants social relationships in their community (their social capital) and the development of a stable and integrated society (social cohesion) at the local level. It questioned the extent to which social capital could reconcile contradictions between social cohesion and the social differences between diverse migrant communities.
Source: Roger Zetter, David Griffiths and Nando Sigona, Immigration, Social Cohesion and Social Capital: What are the links?, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Feb
A paper examined what was new about immigration in 2005, by comparing it with immigration thirty years previously. It argued for race relations practices to be more inclusive of new immigrants, and suggested that the promotion of community cohesion needed to be faster in order to respond to the specific needs of new immigrants.
Source: Rob Berkeley, Omar Khan and Mohan Ambikaipaker, What s New About New Immigrants in Twenty-First Century Britain?, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Paper
Date: 2006-Feb
A qualitative research project examined the way in which internal relocation was being applied to women's asylum and human rights claims. Internal relocation was being simplistically applied without sufficient evidence-based analysis and scrutiny of risks. This could result in single, separated, divorced, or lesbian women being returned to circumstances of abuse, exploitation, and further persecution.
Source: Claire Bennett, Relocation, Relocation: The impact of internal relocation on women asylum seekers, Asylum Aid (020 7377 5123)
Date: 2006-Jan
An article examined the mental and physical health of children held within an immigration detention centre. Detained children were found to be experiencing mental and physical health difficulties of recent onset, which appeared to be related to the detention experience.
Source: Ann Lorek et al., 'The mental and physical health difficulties of children held within a British immigration detention center: a pilot study', Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 33 Issue 9
Links: Abstract | Summary | Childrens Society press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jan
A new book examined methodological issues relating to the involvement of refugees in both service evaluation and development and research more generally.
Source: Bogusia Temple and Rhetta Moran (eds.), Doing Research with Refugees: Issues and guidelines, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jan
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on migration and community cohesion. It said that high levels of migration did not automatically lead to poor cohesion: but they could have an impact when combined with deprivation and a lack of experience of managing the impacts of migration.
Source: Government Response to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee Report on Community Cohesion and Migration, Cm 7489, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2006-Jan
An article said that expanding mechanisms of border control increasingly depended on the 'criminalization' of non-citizens. Criminologists needed to consider the implications of basing a politics of national identity that aspired to 'solidarity' and shared values on the forcible exclusion of growing numbers of people.
Source: Mary Bosworth and Mhairi Guild, 'Governing through migration control: security and citizenship in Britain', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 48 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jan
The government published detailed guidance on the new points-based immigration system for skilled and temporary workers (effective from 27 November 2008). Under the new arrangements, employers would have to prove that they could not fill a post with a resident worker before they could bring in someone from outside the European Economic Area, and would be held accountable for the workers they brought into the country. It said that if the system had been in place during the previous year there would have been 12 per cent fewer people coming in to work through the equivalent work permit route.
Source: Tier 2 of the Points Based System: Policy Guidance, UK Border Agency/Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Guidance | Hansard | UKBA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jan
A paper said that rural communities were struggling to cope with an influx of migrant workers, despite the benefits they brought such as raising economic output and filling labour shortages and skill gaps.
Source: Migrant Worker Integration Group: Position Paper, Business in the Community (0870 600 2482)
Links: Report | RSN press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2006-Jan
A report said that least 32 asylum families had gone underground to avoid having their children taken into care because they had failed to leave Britain. It called the pilot scheme "inhumane and ineffective".
Source: Inhumane and Ineffective - Section 9 in Practice, Refugee Action (020 7654 7700) and Refugee Council
Links: Report | Refugee Action press release
Date: 2006-Jan
The government announced that the number of jobs available to workers from outside the European Union through the shortage occupation route (those jobs for which there were not enough resident workers) would be reduced from 1 million to just under 800,000. The list includes maths and science teachers, specialist nurses, and social workers.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 11 November 2008, columns 48-54WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Home Office press release | UNISON press release | UKHCA press release | RCN press release | Telegraph report | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jan
From 5 October 2009 the weekly rate of benefit for a single asylum-seeker over the age of 25 who was destitute and asked for support was reduced to £35.13 per week, down from £42.16. Asylum-seekers who were lone parents with one child had their benefits frozen at £42.16, instead of rising in line with inflation.
Source: The Observer, 4 October 2009
Links: Observer report | Refugee Action press release
Date: 2006-Jan
The government began consultation on a national action plan aimed at combating and preventing human trafficking.
Source: Tackling Human Trafficking: Consultation on proposals for a UK action plan, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation document | Salvation Army press release
Date: 2006-Jan