<\/p>\n
Gaps in official migration statistics are hampering public debate and policy decisions including on cases relating to human rights laws, according to a leading thinktank.<\/p>\n
The University of Oxford\u2019s Migration Observatory has identified 10 areas where information is lacking, including immigration enforcement and returns, and the size of the population living undocumented in the UK.<\/p>\n
The research also raised how it is difficult to understand how many immigration cases are affected by the European convention on human rights (ECHR) as the government seeks to change it and Reform and The Tories have pledged to leave it.<\/p>\n
An analysis published on Friday found there is little data to identify who and how many people apply for and are granted permission to stay in the UK through the convention, or successfully appeal against their removal.<\/p>\n
Madeleine Sumption, the thinktank\u2019s director, said: \u201cThe UK\u2019s membership of ECHR is a major issue in public debate, in large part due to its impacts on migration policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the current data can\u2019t give us a clear picture of where and when it has most impact. This makes it harder for the public or policymakers to make an informed choice about an important decision with long-term repercussions for the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research comes after Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, announced a series of changes to the asylum system and migration rules as she seeks to fulfil Keir Starmer\u2019s pledges to cut the overall number of people coming to the country.<\/p>\n
As part of the asylum proposals, ministers will seek to bring in legislation to prevent human rights laws being used to frustrate deportations and make it easier to remove people.<\/p>\n
One of the themes the Migration Observatory found in the study were poorly linked records for a person\u2019s migration journey.<\/p>\n
Peter Walsh, the thinktank\u2019s senior researcher, said: \u201cThese evidence gaps are particularly challenging when trying to track asylum seekers through the immigration system: official data can\u2019t tell us much about what happens to asylum seekers who are refused but not returned, or what type and sequence of appeals some people make when told they must leave the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are important questions, especially at a time when the government plans to reorganise the immigration and asylum appeals system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Political opponents have criticised the government\u2019s failure to publish missing statistics.<\/p>\n
Max Wilkinson, the Lib Dems\u2019 home affairs spokesperson, said: \u201cThis confirms what we already knew \u2013 the Home Office can\u2019t be trusted to sort things out because it doesn\u2019t even record the data properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people like Nigel Farage are routinely spreading dodgy claims, it\u2019s even more important that the government knows what\u2019s really going on.\u201d<\/p>\n