Dear Mr Timms,
I write again following my letter of 27 September about the publication of statistics on people being granted Leave to Remain with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).
The Home Office Deputy Director for Migration Statistics wrote to Ed Humpherson on 15 December 2021 and 13 January 2022, reporting progress on data related to NRPF. He expects the new Home Office IT systems to be operational at some point in 2022 (rather than by the end of 2021 as previously set out), after which point analysts hope they will be better able to look at repeat applications. It was not clear whether data on reasons for refusal will be available in the future. In the meantime, in its update, the Home Office provided new analysis of repeat applications based on information it presently holds, although they emphasised that these are initial estimates based on the current systems.
We also understand that the Home Office is planning to publish its plans for further data and statistics on NRPF and exploratory work on migrant poverty as part of its annual update to users on future plans for Home Office statistics. This annual update is due to be published later this month.
The Department continues to publish data on NRPF applications for a change of condition. Data on NRPF are clearly of public interest, and our director general for regulation Ed Humpherson has written to the Home Office welcoming its commitment to publishing its plans for further data and statistics on NRPF and plans for exploratory work on migrant poverty later this month. He has also recently met with officials there as part of ongoing discussions about analysis in the Department more generally.
Yours sincerely,
Related links:
Stephen Timms MP to Sir David Norgrove: Leave to Remain with No Recourse to Public Funds statistics