Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
The Government must provide greater transparency as to the use of deprivation of citizenship powers,...
Recommendation
The Government must provide greater transparency as to the use of deprivation of citizenship powers, including by providing regularly updated data to the public. The Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, or the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation if his remit is expanded, should periodically review the use of deprivation of citizenship powers, including for national security reasons, and report to Parliament about his findings. (Recommendation, Paragraph 77) 33 Detention of British citizens in North East Syria (NES)
Government Response Summary
The government contends there is already sufficient oversight and transparency, citing its regular publication of data on citizenship deprivations and the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's existing remit and past reviews of the power.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
20. There is sufficient oversight and transparency of the use of the deprivation power. The Government publishes data in relation to deprivation of British citizenship on conducive grounds (section 40(2) of the BNA 1981) in publications of the Counter-terrorism disruptive powers report. Eight reports have been published by the Government to date providing the number of deprivations of citizenship orders made up until the end of 2023. 21. There is also sufficient independent oversight. The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has the remit to review the power. Sections 48–56 of the UK Borders Act 2007 (as amended) provide the legislative framework for the inspection of the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance of functions relating to immigration, asylum, nationality, and customs by the Home Secretary and by any person exercising such functions on her behalf. The ICIBI has conducted independent reviews of the deprivation power, with reports published in 2018 and 2024.