RAMP Project Statement: Immigration Bill and COVID-19
The Immigration Bill’s Second Reading in Parliament comes at a crucial time for the United Kingdom. While the content of the Bill has not changed, the context within which it will be implemented has changed significantly. As we start to reset our immigration system on leaving the European Union, this Bill is a missed opportunity to do so in a way which helps the nation to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
The RAMP project and RAMP Parliamentarians have been advocating for a system which:
acknowledges the value that migrants bring to our nation, demonstrated powerfully by the contribution made by migrant key workers in the response to COVID-19
focuses on skills not salary levels
recognises regional economic needs
protects the rights and wellbeing of migrants to the UK, supports them to integrate fully into wider society and does not discriminate on the grounds of age or gender
is ethical, compassionate and well-managed
As the Bill receives its Second Reading in the Commons and moves into its Committee stage, the brevity of the Bill and the reliance on future secondary legislation and wide-ranging ‘Henry VIII’ ministerial powers sets a worrying trend. This will reduce the ability of Parliament to scrutinise UK immigration policy and implementation. Without proper scrutiny, we are not confident that implementation will be fair or effective.
Low-paid work is not the same as low-skilled work. The Bill needs to ensure that we have enough people with the right skills to help our economy to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. We have had a salutary reminder of the contribution made by low-paid but indispensable skilled key workers from across the world.
The Bill also needs to ensure that the UK can continue to meet its international obligations to resettle refugees fleeing war and persecution around the world. Now would be a good time to explore additional complementary pathways for resettling displaced people with the skills most needed in the UK economy and to provide clarity on how refugee children separated from their families will be reunited once Dublin III arrangements expire at the end of this year.
And finally the Bill must also ensure that those most vulnerable migrants already in the UK are protected and supported to integrate into our communities and to thrive. The COVID-19 crisis has increased the vulnerability of families with no recourse to public funds, and the impact of this on children needs to be reviewed urgently. We are also concerned about the number of children who may end up undocumented under current plans for the EU Settlement Scheme.
We welcome the opportunity that the Immigration Bill provides to bring some of these crucial issues to the forefront of public debate. We will continue to work with our Principals to support the Government to legislate in a way that will work for migrants, for communities in the UK and for our shared economy.