Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
The Committee of Public Accounts has found previously that the Department did not use its...
Conclusion
The Committee of Public Accounts has found previously that the Department did not use its own data to fully explore the impact of its work on individuals.27 During the evidence session, we asked whether the Department considered the implications of immigration enforcement actions for young people whose immigration status had not been formalised.28 The Department did not think these people would be a “particular priority” and said it would take into account any barriers that had prevented their earlier engagement with the UK Visas and Immigration or Immigration Enforcement. We heard that the Department “would hope” that these cases would be identified earlier to allow discussions about their status and that checkpoints in the system would prevent them being unnecessarily caught up in the enforcement system.29
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Winter 2021 3.2 The department is committed to using customer insight wherever possible and appropriate to inform the ongoing design and delivery of the immigration system. Customer insight was a key shaper, for example, of the successful EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). An ongoing programme of engagement with those who use and are subject to aspects of the immigration system is supporting the development of the department’s modernised systems and processes. Within IE specifically, user insight continues to be an important influence on the design and day-to-day management of the immigration detention estate, the Voluntary Returns Service (VRS) and contact management and reporting arrangements. 3.3 Looking ahead, the department’s response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review by Wendy Williams puts user experience and feedback at the heart of its work to make the department more outward facing. A new customer strategy will enable data, insight and segmentation analysis across all customer and user cohorts, to drive continuous improvement. The department is establishing a Young People’s Board composed of 15-25 year olds who have recently been through the immigration system, and is consulting with the Windrush Cross-Government Working Group on how best to advance the recommendation to establish a Migrants’ Commissioner to engage with migrant communities directly and facilitate their feedback so that it can be considered in policy development and operational activity.