Immigration

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on immigration. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
15.07.2013Croatian nationals' rights to live and work in the UK after joining the EU
Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013. Croatian nationals can now exercise 'free movement' rights under European law to travel to and live in the UK. However, as with the previous two rounds of EU enlargement, Croatia's EU accession treaty permits Member States to impose transitional restrictions on Croatian workers' free movement rights for up to seven years, in order to guard against disruption of labour markets. The UK has decided to apply transitional restrictions.
05.07.2013Abolition of family visitor visa appeal rights
Section 52 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 abolished the full right of appeal in family visitor visa cases. Applications submitted on or after 25 June 2013 are affected. The Government argues that it is considerably quicker and cheaper for a refused applicant to submit a new application rather than wait for an appeal to be processed. Defenders of family visitor visa appeal rights counter that it is essential that applicants have access to an independent appeal tribunal.
05.06.2013Migration Statistics
A guide to understanding UK migration statistics, explaining the concepts and methods used in measuring migration and setting out a range of data on migration in the UK and in European Union countries.
09.05.2013Immigration and asylum policy: Government plans and progress made
This note provides an overview of the Government's immigration and asylum policy priorities and its progress in implementing them.
29.04.2013Deportation of foreign national ex-offenders
This note provides an overview of the current law and Home Office practice relating to the deportation of foreign national ex-offenders.

Research Papers

DateDescription
08.03.2013Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Committee Stage Report
The Crime and Courts Bill would, amongst other things, establish a new National Crime Agency, change the law on self defence for householders defending themselves from intruders, make changes to community sentences and immigration appeal rights and introduce a new drug driving offence. The Government made a number of substantive amendments in Committee, including on bailiffs, proceeds of crime and extradition.
09.01.2013Crime and Courts Bill [HL]
The Bill would establish a new National Crime Agency and make a number of changes to the administration of justice. It also deals with the law of self defence as it applies to householders defending themselves from intruders; makes changes to community sentences and to immigration appeal rights; and introduces a new drug driving offence.
01.11.2012European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Bill [Bill 76 of 2012-13]
Croatia is expected to join the EU in July 2013. This Bill would allow the UK to ratify Croatia's accession treaty and would also cover the Protocol to the Lisbon Treaty put forward by the Irish Government.
08.06.2011Welfare Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is an account of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill. It complements Research Papers 11/23 and 11/24, prepared for the Commons Second Reading debate.
04.03.2011Welfare Reform Bill: reform of disability benefits, Housing Benefit, and other measures
This paper has been prepared for the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons. For information on the provision in the Bill relating to the introduction of Universal Credit, please see the complementary Library Research Paper, 11/24. Besides Universal Credit, the Bill proposes a number of other significant welfare reforms, including replacement of the current Disability Living Allowance, restriction of Housing Benefit entitlement to social housing tenants whose accommodation is larger than they need, time-limiting the payment of contributory Employment and Support Allowance to twelve months, and capping the total amount of benefit that can be claimed.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
20.12.2011The work of the UK Border Agency (April-July 2011).
Government response. Home Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
20.10.2011Government response to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee fifth report:
Government response. Scottish Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
19.07.2011Student immigration system in Scotland.
Scottish Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
10.05.2011The work of the UK Border Agency.
Government response. Home Affairs Select Committee; Home Office report [Commons]
08.03.2011Draft Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004 (Remedial) Order 2010.
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
15.11.2011RESOURCING OF UK BORDER AGENCY
That this House believes that the UK Border Agency is suffering from a damaging cuts programme resulting in chronic under-resourcing; notes with concern staff reports that the Agency ...
11.07.2011UK BORDER AGENCY AND THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998
That this House notes that the Order that amended the Data Protection Act 1998 which came into force on 17 December 2002 removed the Act's restrictions on the disclosures of sensitive ...
11.07.2011UK BORDER AGENCY INTERNATIONAL GROUP
That this House regrets that although the Government advocates transparency, officials in the UK Border Agency International Group are refusing to place in the Library telephone/fax ...
06.07.2011IMMIGRATION AT STANSTED AIRPORT
That this House notes that immigration and special branch officers are deeply concerned about potential abuse of the Common Travel Area Channel at Stansted Airport, where travellers ...
04.07.2011TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR EU MIGRANT WORKERS
That this House notes recent figures showing that nearly 90 per cent. of the 400,000 jobs created since May 2010 have been taken by foreign workers; further notes that the transitional ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
23.01.2012Question for Short Debate on 2 February: Human Trafficking
This Lords Library Note provides definitions of human trafficking, statistics on its incidence, and an outline of domestic and international policy to combat the problem.
17.01.2008Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill (HL Bill 16, 2007-08). LLN 2008/001
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2008/001

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords