Any estimate of the exact size of the illegal population is extremely difficult and there would be considerable uncertainty around it.

The banking measures only apply to disqualified persons - these are illegal migrants who are known to the Home Office and are liable for removal or deportation from the UK. The Home Office shares details of disqualified persons with banks and building societies via a specified anti-fraud organisation, for them to check against their records.

The 2016 Act banking measures came into force on 30 October; however, banks and building societies are required to conduct their first immigration check on all personal current accounts within the first quarter (January – March) of 2018. Banks and building societies must report any matches to the Home Office and only take action on accounts when instructed by the Home Office.

Any estimate of the exact size of the illegal population is extremely difficult and there would be considerable uncertainty around it.

Exit checks were introduced in April 2015 and are, over time, providing more detailed insights into the behaviour of migrants and how they comply with the restrictions placed upon their length of stay in the UK, but the data obtained does not provide the total number of illegal migrants in the UK. Instead of producing inaccurate numbers, the Government is focused on making it harder for people to live in the UK illegally.

The International Passenger Survey is the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics and does not provide estimates of the size of the illegal population.

Any estimate of the exact size of the illegal population is extremely difficult and there would be considerable uncertainty around it.

Exit checks were introduced in April 2015 and are, over time, providing more detailed insights into the behaviour of migrants and how they comply with the restrictions placed upon their length of stay in the UK, but the data obtained does not provide the total number of illegal migrants in the UK. Instead of producing inaccurate numbers, the Government is focused on making it harder for people to live in the UK illegally.

The International Passenger Survey is the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics and does not provide estimates of the size of the illegal population.

Any estimate of the exact size of the illegal population is extremely difficult and there would be considerable uncertainty around it.

Exit checks were introduced in April 2015 and are, over time, providing more detailed insights into the behaviour of migrants and how they comply with the restrictions placed upon their length of stay in the UK, but the data obtained does not provide the total number of illegal migrants in the UK. Instead of producing inaccurate numbers, the Government is focused on making it harder for people to live in the UK illegally.

The International Passenger Survey is the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics and does not provide estimates of the size of the illegal population.

Assessments of public service impacts of migration have been considered in previous Home Office publications – ‘Social and Public Service Impacts of International Migration at the Local Level’ published in 2013; and Annex 6 of the Impact Assessment accompanying The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016 provide examples of how these have previously been considered.

These publications can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-and-public-service-impacts-of-international-migration-at-the-local-level

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/177/impacts

The scheme is intended to to ensure that refugees who wish to apply for benefits are assisted with their application and receive prompt payment of any benefit for which they qualify. We will make information available about the scheme in due course.

There is no requirement for a passenger to declare their dual nationality status on arrival to the United Kingdom. A Border Force officer will examine the document a passenger chooses to present on arrival and complete the mandatory checks outlined in the Border Force Operating Mandate.

A Border Force officer will only grant entry to a passenger once they have satisfactorily established their nationality, identity and immigration status in the UK and that they do not pose a security risk.

The UK operates a secure border. All passengers arriving on scheduled services from outside of the Common Travel Area must satisfactorily establish their identity and nationality to allow a decision to be taken on their eligibility for entry to the UK. Travel documents and ID cards are currently the internationally accepted means for doing this. Documents which also contain a biometric chip are regarded as more secure than paper-based documents alone as the chip allows a more accurate reconciliation of the individual to the document. There are no current plans to operate our border controls without the use of a document or card.

Details of the income that the Department has generated from border, immigration and citizenship services is provided in the Annual Report and Accounts, published on Gov.uk. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for written parlimentary questions. However the information requested can be found in the attached document.

For Border, Immigration and Citizenship services, fees are paid by UK citizens for HM Passport and Government Register Office services. Details of income received for these services are set out in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for written parlimentary questions. However the information requested can be found in the attached document.

No formal assessment has been made of the use of the Public Statement: Relationship No Longer Subsisting Forms.

The Life in the UK test is based upon our handbook – Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents – which is available for all applicants to study as part of their test preparation. It was revised substantively in 2013, and took into account feedback received from previous applicants and others who had provided comments on it. The content of the handbook moved away from statistics and related information and put the emphasis on British history, culture and democracy. The test questions were revised at this time to reflect the change in emphasis.

We will consider whether it would be appropriate to make the test available in Cornish as part of the protected minority status.

The Life in the UK test is based upon our handbook – Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents – which is available for all applicants to study as part of their test preparation. It was revised substantively in 2013, and took into account feedback received from previous applicants and others who had provided comments on it. The content of the handbook moved away from statistics and related information and put the emphasis on British history, culture and democracy. The test questions were revised at this time to reflect the change in emphasis.

We will consider whether it would be appropriate to make the test available in Cornish as part of the protected minority status.

The Life in the UK Advisory Group provided key recommendations on establishing the current processes for those applying for, and being granted, British Citizenship. We have no plans to relaunch it.

Fees received by the Home Office in respect of Citizenship applications are not used to fund the Nationality Checking Service. This service is offered by Local Authorities who fund its provision from the fees they set.

The Government works closely with Ireland on matters of border security. This work is intrinsically linked to the Common Travel Area (CTA), a special border-free zone encompassing the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

To protect this arrangement there is a high level of collaboration between the UK and Ireland to strengthen the external border of the CTA. A joint programme of work includes the sharing of information and increased understanding of respective border arrangements, increased sharing and use of data to inform immigration and border security decisions, and the alignment of border policies and processes.

No assessment has been made of introducing English language proficiency exemptions for applicants because of nationality.

All those applying for indefinite leave to remain under a provision where knowledge of language and life in the UK (KoLL) is a requirement, and all those applying for naturalisation as a British citizen, must meet KoLL. Exemptions to this requirement are primarily based on the applicant’s inability to prepare for or sit the test. Where an applicant has a physical or medical condition which would make it unreasonable to expect them to undertake the test, they can be exempted. Exemptions also exist on the basis of age.

There are no exemptions from KoLL due to a person’s nationality. A person who is a national of a majority English-speaking country will, however, be able to use this to demonstrate that they meet the English language part of the KoLL requirement.

The £5.48 email charge is levied to fund the commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system. Those who use the services are predominantly from outside the UK. Our web site www.gov.uk is the main source of information and advice and is free of charge.

Further details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.

The £5.48 email charge is levied to fund the commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system. Those who use the services are predominantly from outside the UK. Our web site www.gov.uk is the main source of information and advice and is free of charge.

Further details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.

This information is published quarterly here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data

On the tab: Temporary and Permanent Migration Data

The monthly breakdown is as follows (in line with the most recent published data).

Test Attempts : Life in the UK Test by Year and Month

1st January 2010 to 30th June 2017