Lords Committee Calls for Urgent Migration Data Reform

The House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee has urged the Government to improve the quality and availability of migration data, warning that gaps in information are fuelling misinformation and making it harder to develop effective policies on settlement, citizenship and integration.

In a newly published report, peers said better data is essential to understanding how many migrants remain in the UK, how many have left, and how settlement and citizenship policies are affecting communities. The Committee argued that the absence of reliable information risks undermining public confidence and informed debate on migration issues.

Among its recommendations, the Committee called on the Home Office to resume publishing exit-check data as a matter of urgency. Members said this would help clarify the number of migrants currently in the country and provide more accurate information on visa overstayers. The report also highlighted the need for stronger data-sharing arrangements between government departments to support better decision-making.

The Committee’s wider inquiry examined settlement pathways, citizenship processes and integration policy across the UK. Peers stressed that responsibilities for these areas are spread across several government departments, devolved administrations and local authorities, making effective coordination particularly important.

The report also recommends clearer ministerial accountability for immigration, settlement and citizenship policy, alongside the creation of a cross-government migration strategy. Suggestions include a triennial Migration Plan jointly overseen by the Home Office and Cabinet Office, supported by regular engagement with local government and community stakeholders.

Committee members warned that significant proposed changes to settlement and citizenship rules should be underpinned by robust evidence and detailed impact assessments. They argued that major reforms should be accompanied by transparent analysis of their likely effects on individuals, employers, public services and community cohesion.

The Government is expected to respond formally to the Committee’s findings within the coming months. The report comes amid continuing debate over future immigration policy and proposed reforms to settlement routes in the UK.

For care providers, the findings are particularly relevant given the sector’s ongoing reliance on international recruitment and the importance of clear, evidence-based immigration policies in supporting workforce planning and long-term staffing strategies.