Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
The NAO reported that Immigration Enforcement could make better use of its analytical functions and...
Conclusion
The NAO reported that Immigration Enforcement could make better use of its analytical functions and evaluations to improve as an organisation.34 The Department recognises the need to refresh its research and evidence base across the borders and immigration system and told us about its increasing use of analysis and evaluation to 24 Qq 97–98; C&AG’s Report, para 2.16 25 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.9 & 2.30 26 Qq 105–106 27 HC Committee of Public Accounts, Windrush generation and the Home Office, Eighty-second report of session 2017–19, HC 1518, 6 March 2019, pp.6–7 28 Q 67 29 Qq 68–69 30 Q 80; C&AG’s Report para 2.30 31 Q 93 32 C&AG’s Report, para 2.30 33 Qq 81, 90, 93 34 C&AG’s Report para 3.23 Immigration enforcement 13 demonstrate the impact of its immigration enforcement activities.35 The Department also told us that it needs to open up and “get much more used to working with and listening to the communities” working with it, particularly those who have not had a positive view of it.36 It expressed the need for a more people-centred immigration process, which it defined as supporting the people within it.37
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: March 2021 2.2 The department’s priority is to ensure that the collection, use and analysis of data support the effective delivery of public safety and security outcomes. Alongside HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service, the department holds some of the most significant datasets in Government. Effective use of data is therefore critical. 2.3 The department recognises that an investment in data analytics is important. As such, work is currently underway to create (and, where they already exist, expand) pockets of excellence, with an increased departmental-wide focus on data exploitation. The department’s technology investments are developing the underpinning infrastructure with a focus on accurate and high-quality data. Moving data onto modern and more resilient systems ensures that the twin priorities of keeping data secure and private and using data effectively to deliver positive outcomes can both be met. 2.4 The analytical capability within Immigration Enforcement (IE) specifically has grown significantly in recent years, with new Social Research, Operational Research and Economic Analysis teams all created to improve the analysis of data. But there is clearly more to do. 2.5 IE therefore has a comprehensive and long-term plan to transform into an organization that fully harnesses the opportunities that data provide. Whilst challenging – the plan involves the delivery of a number of technical components, the re-engineering of a number of existing work processes and an overarching cultural change in the way that IE staff approach data – the current departmental assessment is that, with the appropriate allocation and investment of resources, this plan can be fully and comprehensively delivered by 2025.