Immigration

On Thursday 10 December 2020, the House of Lords will debate regulations made by the Secretary of State using powers in the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020. The regulations make a series of changes which the Government describe as necessary following the ending of freedom of movement. The changes will come into force at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic abuse charities have reported a sharp increase in demand for their services. In response, the Government has provided additional funding to local authorities and domestic violence groups, and is seeking to enact further measures through the Domestic Abuse Bill shortly to come before the House of Lords.

Three draft statutory instruments due to be debated in the House of Lords on 22 October 2020 would give effect to commitments in the EU Withdrawal Agreement, the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement and the Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement. These statutory instruments cover a “grace period” for applications to the EU settlement scheme permits for frontier workers; and the deportation of EEA citizens.

After the Brexit transition period, the UK will no longer participate in the Dublin system, an EU arrangement for dealing with asylum applications. This article looks at the findings of a House of Lords committee report that considered the impact of Brexit on refugee and asylum policy, and sets out what has happened since the report was published in October 2019.

Amongst its provisions, the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill would give effect to the Government’s policy of ending freedom of movement once the transition phase ends at the end of December 2020. It would also confirm the continued right of Irish citizens to come to and work in the UK after the ending of freedom of movement and it would provide a power to amend, via regulations, retained EU law governing social security coordination.

The Government has set up a scheme to compensate those affected by the Windrush scandal. This briefing explains the scheme and considers criticisms of it so far.

This government bill would provide parliamentary authorisation for Windrush compensation scheme payments. While the bill has received cross-party support, opposition parties have remained critical of the compensation scheme.

Many countries, including the UK, have developed ways of measuring national wellbeing to complement gross domestic product as the main indicator of national performance. Proponents argue wellbeing data can help in identifying government spending priorities and evaluating which interventions are successful in improving people’s lives. There are calls for a wellbeing approach to be better embedded in policymaking.

This House of Lords Library Briefing contains a selection of material relevant for the forthcoming debate to ask Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the impact of India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, passed on 11 December 2019, on UK citizens, and what representations they have made, if any, to the government of India as a result”.

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been published ahead of day 2 of the Lords debate on the December 2019 Queen’s Speech, covering the following subjects: home affairs, justice, constitutional affairs and devolved affairs.

This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information to mark the upcoming World Cities Day on 31 October 2019.

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been published ahead of day 4 of the Lords debate on the Queen’s Speech, covering the following subjects: home affairs, justice, local government, devolved affairs and constitutional affairs.