Draft Legislative Programme - Citizen, Immigration and Borders Bill

Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill

The purpose of the Bill is to: replace all existing immigration legislation with a simplified, clear and coherent legal framework to control our borders, manage migration and reform the path to citizenship.

The main elements of the Bill are:

• support the concept of earned citizenship – setting out the eligibility requirements for UK citizenship;

• support the establishment of the UK Border Agency;

• replace ten separate pieces of immigration law, of which some of the earlier provisions have already been partially superseded by subsequent Acts, with a single Act of Parliament;

• provide for sharper and more consistent immigration rules, which can continue to be quickly adjusted in response to changing circumstances.

The main benefits of the earned citizenship provisions - a single piece of legislation to underpin the UK Border Agency's operations - will mean more:

• Transparency, clarity and predictability: for agency staff, applicants and sponsors, and the wider public;

• Efficiency and more straightforward decision-making processes: with a system friendly to all its users, and quicker and easier to reach decisions;

• Plain English, avoiding technical jargon wherever possible;

• Public confidence in a comprehensible system.

The public consultation on the draft legislative programme ended on 6 August 2008. Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation.

Comments on this bill (32 comments)
G.Hampshire (17:31 : 23/05/2008)

There is nothing in the above text which will in any way appease the concerns of the British public as there are no specifics. We the British Public are fed up of hollow promises and want to know EXACTLY what you the so-called governement are going to do to remedy this. Issuing vague promises with no substance this late in the day simply adds further proof that as a government you are completely out of touch with the larger British public's feelings and unfit to govern on this issue.

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Territorial Extent

United Kingdom

Theme

Personalisation and Improvement of Public Services

Consultation

The Government plans to publish some of the immigration provisions of this bill in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny later this year. The Government has already consulted on the citizenship proposals for this bill in its consultation The path to citizenship: next steps in reforming the immigration system. This consultation has now closed.

Other Actions

In addition to the proposals in the Bill, the Government is also:

• Phasing in the Points Based System for immigration from 2008, which will enable control of non-EU nationals’ migration to the United Kingdom more effectively, tackle abuse and attract the most talented workers into the United Kingdom economy;

• Establishing the new UK Border Agency as a shadow agency of the Home Office, to protect our borders, control migration, prevent border tax fraud, smuggling and immigration crime, and implement quick and fair decisions. Frontline staff will be given both immigration and customs powers and staff in England and Wales will be equipped with police-like powers.