Illegal migrants: the analysis the Home Office will not release
- 12 Sep 06, 12:21 PM
(....or How Freedom of Information Works, Part 96). On 13 June, Home Office minister Liam Byrne told MPs his mind was open on the proposal for an amnesty for illegal migrants. On 13 July he ruled it out. What had happened to make this change - a fairly major change if you are one of the 1/2 million people here illegally? Answer: "analysis". But will Newsnight viewers get to see that analysis? See if you can predict the outcome of this story...
In his original answer to MPs Mr Byrne assured them:
鈥淭he position I am in at the moment is really needing to understand in far more detail than I do at the moment the precise segmentation of people whose positions have not yet been regularised. I have commissioned some analysis because I need to understand issues like the length of stay already here, how many people have been here for X, Y and Z number of years, I need to understand where they come from, I need to understand what process their cases are in. [鈥 To be frank with the Committee, it is too early for me to get into that question yet, because I have not got that analysis in front of me. I think the analysis will have a critical bearing on that question, I would have thought.鈥
Once he had seen the analysis, and made up his mind, Newsnight wondered whether the rest of us would be allowed to see it. Given it had "critcal bearing". So we put in a Freedom of Information request for a copy of said analysis, plus minutes of any meetings between Mr Byrne and officials leading up to his change of mind, and any briefing notes.
Two months to the day later, we have our answer. I am pleased to be able to inform you that the analysis does in fact exist. Any allegations that the decision had been taken on grounds of political expediency must be dismissed as scurrilous. However, the Home Office has refused to release the analysis. It has told us also that there are no records of any meeting between Mr Byrne and his officials on this matter, and no briefing notes.
The Home Office did accept there was a public interest in the public knowing more about the reasons why an amnesty was ruled out - but said future policy formulation could be damaged by revealing the analysis.
Anyway, at least we know now that there is a Home Office analysis that has convinced a minister to rule out an amnesty for illegal migrants. It had critical bearing on his decision. But there are good reasons why the government thinks it should not be released to the likes of you and me.
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Surely it's the exact opposite. Cynical me suspects it was political expediency (or perhaps political lethargy) and now they don't want us to see the analysis because it might not be as conclusive as they wanted.
At any rate, the reason they give is outrageous. I read "may damage future policy-making" as "people might disagree with us if they have all the facts". It's pathetic. Appeal it to the information commissioner. I'm sure he'd order them to release it.
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One might read the reason as saying that nothing that might inform future political debate will be released.
So, Paul, is it your considered opinion that Freedom of Information is working in the UK as seemed to be promised? Or is it yet another rather important piece of the "Reform Agenda" that wasn't done properly, and was perhaps never intended to be? Not that I want to be cynical, especially with so much (undefined) of the PM's Agenda still to be implemented, he says. But with so many "reforms" apparently formulated in closed meetings and then pushed through with minimal consultation and apparently no wish to hear suggestions for improvement, and sometimes even dire threats if other voices didn't go silent, and no promise of provision in the "packed" legislative agenda of further "reforms" for subsequent amendments in the light of experience, it is more than an accidental pattern.
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One might read the reason as saying that nothing that might inform future political debate will be released.
So, Paul, is it your considered opinion that Freedom of Information is working in the UK as seemed to be promised? Or is it yet another rather important piece of the "Reform Agenda" that wasn't done properly, and was perhaps never intended to be? Not that I want to be cynical, especially with so much (undefined) of the PM's Agenda still to be implemented, he says. But with so many "reforms" apparently formulated in closed meetings and then pushed through with minimal consultation and apparently no wish to hear suggestions for improvement, and sometimes even dire threats if other voices didn't go silent, and no promise of provision in the "packed" legislative agenda of further "reforms" for subsequent amendments in the light of experience, it is more than an accidental pattern.
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You do not need to have any 'analysis'. Illegal immigrants are criminals, by definition they broke the laws to be here. Government's only duty is to eject them as fast as possible. Better, there should be properly sealed borders that check every lorry and car coming in for all contraband, human or goods.
Any 'amnesty' makes the givers of it complicit in the crime. The very idea of any amnesty is perhaps some bureaucrats idea of solving a problem by tearing up the 'bad looking' data, with a stroke of a pen. That is their idea of problem solving! Doing nothing. Then they can keep doing it every few years and there are no illegal immigrants! Perhaps we could cure muggings and thefts like that too? After a couple of years they were not crimes after all!
Perhaps the failure to disclose details is due to embarrassment, that the single brain cell available to government was on holiday when the amnesty was even suggested.:-)
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Please could you tell me who was playing "Its de-lovely" as the background music to Paul Masons Ipod section tonight 12/09/06
Thank you
L Maguire
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Answer to 5: Oscar Petersen. Nice, no?
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I'm sorry Paul but your conclusion completely fails to stand up. How exactly can we judge the robustness of this "analysis" until we see it? That it exists is not good enough because it could simply be a side of A4 outlining why it is politically difficult to grant amnesty. I'd like to see what information our own government has used to make decisions that affect the lives of 500,000 people. Your willingness to excuse their secrecy is appalling.
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Surely future policies should always be based on analysis of past experience (whether damaged by or enhanced by). You imply that the reason for such a 'change in mind' would be fairly important to the half-million legal immigrants here. May I suggest that it is certainly no less important for the indigenous population to also know the reason. In fact, we should demand a full analysis of the effects of immigration on all services - employment, housing, education, NHS, social services, benefits, birth rate, crime, etc., so that the social-engineering experiment of attempting to create a multi-cultural British society can be fully evaluated. Whilst this analysis is being carried out (by an independant body) further immigration should be halted and no decision made on amnesty (or repatriation).
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Sunny, I rather suspect Paul was being sarcastic when he concluded it was alright - the analysis existed, we just weren't allowed to know what it was. This happens more and more these days. In NZ, an asylum seeker has been in jail with the refugee council supporting his appeal to stay. The NZ govt said it had serious information about him that resulted in their denial but they wouldn't tell him or his lawyers what it was. So they have to make a defense against an argument when they don't know what it was!
Wouldn't it be awful to live in the black and white world of commentor number 4? Mind you, I always find the people going on about law and order are usually people who know the system themselves from the inside. Case in point: BNP.
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I would like to make a complaint for the illegal immigrants tht are setteled in UK(Illegaly)..whr can i make it??
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I would like an assistance regarding family visit visa.Is it really necessarry for applicants to have assets/savings/money eventhough all the expenses/accomodation are paid by the sponsors? I also want to know if the ECO really makes proper inquiries on individuals immigration status.My mother of 80yrs old and my brother as her escort to travel was refused visa to enter U.K.base on this grounds.I have evidence from the consulate where they previously travelled saying that there was no inquiries made by the british embassy nor they were given error reports about thier immigration status.As a sponsor i already submitted the appelants appeal.I was informed by the AIT that to wait for the bundles to be forwarded here and the date for the court hearing will take 6 to 8 months.This is a big joke.For goodness sake,we are not breaking any law nor we are not criminals.What have we done wrong,may i ask? Is there any logic to wait for that long period of time for a family visit visa? It is unacceptable and nonesense decision knowing my mother is 80yrs old and necessary to have an escort to travel.Please on our behalf kindly investigate this matter for us.I would like to know the truth behind the officers decisions was base on or is this a loophole?
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We all know that J. Reid is bluffing when he promised to kick out those 500k 'sans papier' - not illegal immigrants.Till we find a solution to this problem, they will keep on hiding and living in misery and we - the one with plenty of papiers we just hope that some of them get pissed off and decide to get out of the UK.
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this government is damn !
bustards .
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It's a disgrace you defined (today on talk sport )working class as someone who doesn't have someone to open his/her car door for him/her. Obviously, your book "live working or die fighting" would be full of rubbish.
We live in an era where anyone can write and publish nonesense. My question to your readers is :are you celebrating mediocrity?
The way you've defined working class is vulgar.You're not alone! we've had enough of this politics of mediocrity.
There is no way I'm going to read your book. no chance.
Oh dear.
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Hi.
I was a bit harsh on you, maybe
I could be more cautious judging
you by what you've uttered on a radio show. I confess though that I have all time found what you broadcast interesting.
So, this time I got it wrong and by large.
I will definetly buy your book and read it.
Here you are, please accept my apology.
Have a nice weekend.
julia
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So, ten years has passed by and this government has done nothing to sort out the Immigration backlog of Illegal immigrants whose arse's hair has turned grey in this country.
I wonder what new labour expects from the british publiC?
Time has come to give an AMNESTY for those who are here and now.
new labour's life is too short to come with any solution to this problem . In failing to do so, I can assure you that you'll never get back to office.
Amnesty now. blair out. new labour out. sans papiers in.
Now.
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What a democracy, govt. of the rulers, for rulers and by rulers!
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what an era we live in!!!
a friend of mine told me that long time before, while listening to a radio program in his country of origin, the radio presenter was talking about an experience he went through while in a visit to london.
it went like this: while enjoying his fish and chips with his friend,he droped some liter on the pavement, so one pedestrian asked him to pick up his litter and chuck it in the bin provided there.He refused to do so and told the stranger pedestrian englishman to mind his business as he wasn't a police officer. The stranger english pedestrian told him: WE ARE 50 MILLION POLICE OFFICER IN THIS COUNTRY ! everyone has to make sure no one is littering our streets !
The radio presenter was amazed by the answer and picked up his rubbish with a smile on his face.The englishman then told him: you're a star !
the radio presenter couldn't wait to get back home and air his experience to his fellow countrymen, and he did.
Now, my friend was amzed to here that presenter talking about his experience and thought he would love to visit london and did. But did when our population was 60 million, only this time not 60 million police men, but I'm reluctant to say 60 million rubbishman.our streets are dirty ! and worse that that, rubbish will be picked up every forthnight instead of one. If you add to that that 700 000 undocumented people are to be deported, you can imagine the filth we'll be in . As most of those who are cleaning our streets are in a way undocumented and the governor knows that, but he has to make a blind eye on them. they're doing a great job.
But don't worry amigo, cos ONE DAY A GOOD RAIN WILL COME AND WASH ALL THIS SCAM OFF OUR STREETS !
julia
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Amnesty is coming.
8 weeks!
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Hi .
today's independant newspaper reports on page 18 that a cross-party compaign for the 500000 undocumented people in britain to be given an amnesty will gain pace at westminster today.
Read it.
julia
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MY friends claims ha can can change lives and turn drag dealers to professors.
The only thing he can't do is to get himself a leave to remain in this country as he is an illegal person.
I told him not to worry about that tony is leading an illegal war in iraq and killing millions.
julia.
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I would like to make a complaint for the illegal immigrants tht are setteled in UK(Illegaly)..where can i make it??
any number or address??
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i thing the gov should grant an amnesty to illegal immigrants and make the borders more secure,and u we british people should move on with our lifes, and stop moaning, end of the day they are here it will cost 10b pounds to kick them out with that amount of money the gov can build 10 new hos, 10 new schools and so on
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the british public is stupid. how on earth can this government ignore the immigration problem for a decade and get away with it? half a million people are undocumented in this country . who's taking care of the borders? the media on the other hand is turning the blind eye on it, the government is turning the deaf ear.
fuket.
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to - 23
what this government needs to build is more prisons to lock up criminals like tony blair and jack straw..
the only reason they're out is cos there is no room in !
amnesty now. snap election now.
julia
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