The term 'migrants' encompasses a diverse group of individuals, including authorised and unauthorised migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, each with varying legal statuses that impact their entitlement to healthcare services in the United Kingdom. The Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of the Global Compact for Migration on the provision of healthcare for migrants.

The National Health Service in England is a residency-based system and free at the point of use for those ordinarily resident. Overseas visitors are required to pay for NHS services, where chargeable, unless otherwise exempt. Exemptions from NHS charges include refugees and asylum seekers. Some NHS services are free to all, including primary care, accident and emergency services, and the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases.

The Ministry of Justice does not have policies in relation to asylum and immigration, responsibility for which sits with the Home Secretary. Nor does the Ministry of Justice consider or hold any data on the number of times in which the UN Global Compact for Migration or other non-binding international agreements have been cited in court rulings.

The Ministry of Justice does not have policies in relation to asylum and immigration, responsibility for which sits with the Home Secretary. Nor does the Ministry of Justice consider or hold any data on the number of times in which the UN Global Compact for Migration or other non-binding international agreements have been cited in court rulings.

The Global Compact for Migration, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, aims to foster international cooperation on migration in a comprehensive way. The Global Compact reaffirms the sovereign right of States to determine their national migration policy and their prerogative to govern migration within their jurisdiction, in conformity with international law.

An effective well-managed migration system is a fundamental part of the UK’s approach to ensuring the security and control of our borders and the UK remains committed to working with partners to address shared challenges.

The Global Compact for Migration, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, aims to foster international cooperation on migration in a comprehensive way. The Global Compact reaffirms the sovereign right of States to determine their national migration policy and their prerogative to govern migration within their jurisdiction, in conformity with international law.

An effective well-managed migration system is a fundamental part of the UK’s approach to ensuring the security and control of our borders and the UK remains committed to working with partners to address shared challenges.

The UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is a legally non-binding document that respects the sovereignty of all countries to manage their own borders and to implement migration policies which respond to their national context. The UK is not legally bound to any new commitments.

Migration to the UK is influenced by various factors, including the UK’s visa regimes with third countries, as well as the free movement of EEA nationals, which will end once we leave the European Union.

The UN Global Compact on Migration is not legally binding. It sets out a series of guidelines for improved international action and co-operation on migration, whilst importantly respecting a State’s sovereign right to determine its own migration policy. The UK is not legally bound by any new commitments as a result of endorsing the Compact.

The UK Government is supportive of the United Nations’ Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, both as a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and as a framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals. The Secretary of State announced the UK’s support for the Migration Compact at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018, and Minister Burt attended the intergovernmental launch event in Marrakesh in December 2018.

The UK voted in favour of the UN General Assembly Resolution to adopt the Compact on 19^th December 2018 and issued an Explanation of Vote to set on the record its interpretation of the text. A summary of the Explanation can be found on the UN website at: https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ga12113.doc.htm

Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places people on the move in situations of great vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration both in our domestic policy work and in our ODA-funded programmes by:

• Addressing factors that may force people to migrate irregularly, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, and education and driving economic development;
• Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime;
• Supporting enhanced border management;
• Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home; and
• Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The Global Compact for Migration supports delivery of these efforts within the international system and enhances cooperation between states without affecting the sovereignty of all countries to control their own borders. The Compact will not in any way create legal obligations for States, nor does it seek to establish international customary law or further interpret existing treaties or national obligations. It does not establish a ‘human right to migrate’ or create any new legal categories of migrant. The GCM emphasises that migrants are entitled to the same universal human rights as any human being and does not create any new ‘rights’ for migrants.

The Compact commits to protecting freedom of expression for the press and public. The freedom of the media to debate all issues of importance to society, including the issue of migration in all its aspects, is fundamental to a liberal society and the UK Government attaches the highest importance to this.

It also includes proposals which will help the UK make a strong contribution to the delivery of the global Sustainable Development Goals. This includes those relating to orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people; and those intended to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, and child labour.

The final draft of the Compact is available online at:

https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/sites/default/files/180711_final_draft_0.pdf

The UK Government is supportive of the United Nations’ Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, both as a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and as a framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals. The Secretary of State announced the UK’s support for the Migration Compact at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018, and Minister Burt attended the intergovernmental launch event in Marrakesh in December 2018.

Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places people on the move in situations of great vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration both in our domestic policy work and in our ODA-funded programmes by:

• Addressing factors that may force people to migrate irregularly, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, and education and driving economic development;
• Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime;
• Supporting enhanced border management;
• Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home; and
• Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The Global Compact for Migration supports delivery of these efforts within the international system and enhances cooperation between states without affecting the sovereignty of all countries to control their own borders. The Compact will not in any way create legal obligations for States, nor does it seek to establish international customary law or further interpret existing treaties or national obligations. It does not establish a ‘human right to migrate’ or create any new legal categories of migrant. The GCM emphasises that migrants are entitled to the same universal human rights as any human being and does not create any new ‘rights’ for migrants.

The Compact commits to protecting freedom of expression for the press and public. The freedom of the media to debate all issues of importance to society, including the issue of migration in all its aspects, is fundamental to a liberal society and the UK Government attaches the highest importance to this. The UK reiterated the importance of this when the UN adopted the Global Compact in December 2018.

It also includes proposals which will help the UK make a strong contribution to the delivery of the global Sustainable Development Goals. This includes those relating to orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people; and those intended to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, and child labour.

The final draft of the Compact is available online at:

https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/sites/default/files/180711_final_draft_0.pdf

Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places those on the move in situations of great vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration both in our domestic policy work and in our ODA-funded programmes by:

• Addressing the root causes of irregular migration, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, education and economic development;

• Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime
• Supporting enhanced border management
• Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home
• Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia

The UK Government is supportive of the UN’s Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The Compact is one way in which we are working to ensure that UK migration priorities are embedded throughout the international system. It is a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and helpful framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Compact is not legally binding. Instead, it creates a framework that will allow countries to work together to make migration more beneficial for everyone. It protects every State’s right to determine its own immigration policies, including in areas such as asylum, border controls and returns of illegal migrants.

My colleague, the Right Hon. Alistair Burt MP, attended the formal intergovernmental launch event in Marrakech on December 10.

Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places those on the move in situations of great vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration both in our domestic policy work and in our ODA-funded programmes by:

• Addressing the root causes of migration, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, education and economic development;

• Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime
• Supporting enhanced border management
• Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home
• Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia

The Global Compact for Migration is one way in which we are working to ensure that UK migration priorities are embedded throughout the international system. It is a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and helpful framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Compact is not legally binding. It creates a framework that will allow countries to work together to make migration more beneficial for everyone. It protects every State’s right to determine its own immigration policies, including in areas such as asylum, border controls and returns of illegal migrants.

Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places people on the move in situations of great vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration both in our domestic policy work and in our ODA-funded programmes by:

• Addressing the root causes of migration, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, education and economic development;

• Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime;

• Supporting enhanced border management;

• Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home; and

• Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The Global Compact for Migration is one way in which we are working to ensure that UK migration priorities are embedded throughout the international system. It is a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and helpful framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Compact is not legally binding. It creates a framework that will allow countries to work together to make migration more beneficial for everyone. It protects every State’s right to determine its own immigration policies, including in areas such as asylum, border controls and returns of illegal migrants.

I recently spoke to the APPGs on Migration and Refugees about the Migration Compact and attended the intergovernmental launch in Marrakech. We will issue a Written Ministerial Statement to update parliament.

Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places those on the move in situations of intense vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration by:

• Addressing the root causes of migration, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, education and economic development
• Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime
• Supporting enhanced border management
• Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home
• Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia

The Global Compact for Migration is one way in which we are working to ensure that UK migration priorities are embedded throughout the international system. It is a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and helpful framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Compact is not legally binding. Instead, it creates a framework that will allow countries to work together to make migration more beneficial for everyone. It protects every State’s right to determine its own immigration policies, including in areas such as asylum, border controls and returns of illegal migrants.

We have worked closely with our EU colleagues throughout the process and will continue to do so as we approach the intergovernmental launch event in Marrakesh. My colleague the Rt Hon. Alistair Burt MP recently spoke to the APPGs on Migration and Refugees about the Migration Compact.

Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places those on the move in situations of intense vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle uncontrolled migration by:

• Addressing the root causes of migration, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare, education and economic development
• Tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime
• Supporting enhanced border management
• Providing critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home
• Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia

The Global Compact for Migration is one way in which we are working to ensure that UK migration priorities are embedded throughout the international system. It is a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and helpful framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Compact is not legally binding. Instead, it creates a framework that will allow countries to work together to make migration more beneficial for everyone. It protects every State’s right to determine its own immigration policies, including in areas such as asylum, border controls and returns of illegal migrants.

We have worked closely with our EU colleagues throughout the process and will continue to do so as we approach the intergovernmental launch event in Marrakesh. My colleague the Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP recently spoke to the APPGs on Migration and Refugees about the Migration Compact.

The UK Government is supportive of the UN’s Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, both as a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and as a framework to help us deliver our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our participation in the Global Compact will not affect our continued ability to determine and implement our own migration policy in the national interest. The Compact is a ‘non-legally binding, cooperative framework’, which reaffirms the sovereign right of States to determine their national migration policy.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is a legally non-binding document which will complement existing legal frameworks and foster stronger international cooperation on migration – which is a shared, global issue.

Alongside the Global Compact for Refugees, it will support the UK’s 3 Global Migration Principles set out by the Prime Minister at UN General Assembly in 2016, namely: to acknowledge the right of countries to control their borders; to improve how we distinguish between refugees and economic migrants; and to ensure refugees claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

The UK welcomes the explicit commitment in the Compact for states to uphold their national sovereignty and continue to set domestic migration policy. We will therefore continue to control our borders and prevent irregular migration to the UK.

By negotiating separate and distinct Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees we have helped strengthen international recognition of the distinction between the two, which will help ensure support is targeted to those in need and migration is better managed. The Global Compact for Refugees supports the Prime Minister’s principle that refugees should seek asylum in the first safe country they reach by promoting greater support to hosting countries to protect and support refugees.