It is indisputable the immigration numbers we have seen over the past few years have been far too high, and we should be looking to substantially reduce them. Therefore, I fully agree with the need to publish information about our immigration system transparently.
It is absolutely critical that we have access to a wide array of information to inform the policy decisions the Government makes regarding migration. That is why the Leader of the Opposition has expressed her support for a transparent approach to migration, including the publication of all available data. She also rightly emphasised that it is not just about releasing data but about improving the data and economic modelling that decision-makers rely on.
People deeply care about immigration; an expanded range of data and information could help the UK to understand the issues facing our country and how best to address them. The last Government took steps to improve this transparency, providing regular updates on small boat crossings to ensure up-to-date data on this evolving issue was presented to the British public.
Kemi Badenoch has also made it clear in a speech on immigration that our future migration policy will have, at its core, a zero-tolerance approach to foreign criminals remaining in the UK. I hope this reassures you that, while I understand the need for data, we can go further and ensure our future migration system adopts a zero-tolerance approach.
I fully support the use of data in our policy processes, and the more transparent the Government can be about this important issue, the better. Reducing immigration, both legal and illegal, requires concrete and realistic action, including steps to tighten visa rules and implement effective deterrents against illegal activities. The choice in tackling immigration lies between these approaches, rather than adopting superficial solutions unlikely to bring meaningful change to our system.
I would note that in certain cases, there may be significant expenses or practical challenges associated with collecting and presenting data. In these cases, I would encourage the Government to take a sensible approach.
