Question
In a speech in March, which I thought was rather good, the Home Secretary said that failure to implement her proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain in full would be “an affront” to British citizens, and would cost hard-working taxpayers £10 billion for care workers alone. Given how strongly she clearly feels about her policy, will she confirm to the House that she will implement her own plans in full, or are the Housing Secretary and the Energy Secretary now in charge of immigration policy?
Answer
I do not need notes from the shadow Home Secretary on any of my speeches; he can keep them to himself. Let me confirm for the House that settlement will be earned, not be automatic. He knows we have conducted a consultation on those proposals, and we will set out our policy in due course.25% point-scoring
Verdict: RED (18/100)
The reply only partly answers the first question. It confirms that settlement will be earned rather than automatic and that a consultation took place, but it says the policy will be set out 'in due course' and never confirms that the changes will be implemented in full. The second question, about whether immigration responsibility has moved to the Housing or Energy Secretaries, is not addressed at all: the reply only comments on notes from the shadow Home Secretary. The person who asked would most likely need to submit a follow-up for specifics on both points.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Home Secretary confirm that the Government will implement her proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain in full. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply confirms only that settlement will be earned rather than automatic and that a consultation was held, then says the policy will be set out 'in due course', so it never confirms the changes will be implemented in full. It engages with the policy but stays noncommittal on the specific question asked. |
| Whether responsibility for immigration policy has been transferred to the Housing Secretary and the Energy Secretary. | Not Addressed | Generic | No statement addresses whether immigration responsibility has moved to the Housing or Energy Secretaries; the reply's only opening remark is about notes from the shadow Home Secretary. |