1 / 14

Chris Hedges Assistant Director Social Policy Unit Home Office

Chris Hedges Assistant Director Social Policy Unit Home Office. OBJECTIVES OF SESSION. Update on the “Life in the UK Advisory Group” final report The policy aims The central strategy for integration What next?. BACKGROUND The customers The application process Legislation Policy aims.

noel
Download Presentation

Chris Hedges Assistant Director Social Policy Unit Home Office

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Chris Hedges Assistant Director Social Policy Unit Home Office

  2. OBJECTIVES OF SESSION • Update on the “Life in the UK Advisory Group” final report • The policy aims • The central strategy for integration • What next?

  3. BACKGROUND • The customers • The application process • Legislation • Policy aims

  4. CUSTOMERS • 124,315 applications granted in 2003 • 94,000 adults, 30,000 children • Refusals up 26% - mainly on residence grounds • Main nationalities are Pakistan (10%), India (9%), Somalia (7%). EU less than 1% • 61% of foreign born people in UK are British Citizens

  5. REFUGEES ASYLUM SEEKERS INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN BRITISH CITIZENSHIP SPOUSES WORK PERMIT HOLDERS 5 YEARS RESIDENCE (3 YEARS FOR SPOUSES) ROUTES TO NATURALISATION

  6. APPLICANTS • Very varied group of people - different backgrounds: refugees, spouses, workers who have settled in UK - not necessarily recent immigrants - all ages and nationalities - different motives

  7. THE NATIONALITY PROCESS • Application made to Home Office • Applications considered against criteria • Residence (5 years, 3 for spouses) • Sufficient knowledge of English • Good character

  8. THE NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM ACT 2002 • Made a number of changes to the British Nationality Act 1981, including: • Clause 1: Testing of language and citizenship • Clause 2: Extension of language requirement to spouses • Clause 3: Introduction of citizenship ceremonies and new oath and pledge

  9. EFFECTS OF LEGISLATION • Since 28 July 2004 applicants have to supply a certificate of proficiency in language • Later in 2005 - supplemented by proof of knowledge of UK society • This requirement also applies to spouses of British citizens • Process culminates in a ceremony

  10. POLICY AIMS • Part of a wider citizenship agenda • Practical help in integrating fully into UK society • Greater sense of belonging • Enhancing the significance of acquiring British Citizenship • Encouraging community cohesion • Valuing diversity

  11. “LIFE IN THE UK GROUP” - KEY RECOMMENDATIONS • English classes for naturalisation applicants and people with a legitimate route to settlement • Classes will have a “civic content” • Programmes will have a practical focus • “Light touch” testing • Separate citizenship test for people with existing language skills

  12. IMPLICATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT • Number of Government Departments (HO, DfES, DWP) and devolved administrations involved. • Programmes will be very expensive; need to identify and prioritise funding • Pan-European issue; other countries very interested in what UK is doing. • EU National Integration Contact Points Network; - EU funding?

  13. BENEFITS OF MIGRATION • Clear benefits to UK economy in context of aging population • Skills shortages in key sectors - 600,000 vacancies in UK • Some might need to be filled by migrants • Treasury estimate for long term growth in UK economy - increase from 2.5% to 2.75% per annum, in large part due to migration • Reduction in unrest and improved community cohesion

  14. A glimpse into the future…. • IND 5 year strategy • Aspirational at this stage; much detailed work needed • Introduces concept of language and citizenship testing before settlement • Need to think through implications: • levels • learner needs • resources • priorities

More Related