Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Data Publication and Quality (Immigration, Nationality and Country of Birth) 2025-12-10

10 December 2025 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Katie Lam Con Weald of Kent

Immigration

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Katie Lam raised concerns about data publication and quality (immigration, nationality and country of birth) 2025-12-10 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Katie Lam argues that migration to the UK has been consistently high for nearly three decades.
  • Lam notes that every election-winning manifesto since 1974 has pledged to reduce migration, yet net migration remains above 100,000 people per year since 1997.
  • Poor data quality on migration, including gaps in entry-exit checks and asylum system tracking, is highlighted as a barrier to effective public policy.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Katie Lam Con Weald of Kent

Katie Lam argues that for nearly three decades, migration to the UK has been too high. She notes that every election-winning manifesto since 1974 has promised to reduce migration yet net migration remains above 100,000 people per year since 1997. She highlights poor data quality on migration and its impact on public policy, pointing out gaps in entry-exit checks, asylum system tracking, fiscal contributions, crime statistics, illegal migrants, and deportation targets. Lam emphasises the need for comprehensive and accurate data to assess migration's true impacts and inform better decisions about who should come into the country.

Other contributors (1)
  • Katie Lam Con Weald of Kent

    Lam argues that current migration data is poor, lacking proper entry-exit checks, comprehensive asylum system tracking, detailed fiscal contributions by migrants, and robust crime statistics. She calls for more accurate and complete datasets to assess the true impacts of migration on public services like health care and education.

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