RAMP Associate Baroness Lister spoke at a debate on the Government’s earned settlement proposals on the 2nd of November. She raised concerns about the retrospective element of the proposals, warning that retrospective measures could unfairly disadvantage migrant workers who came to the UK in good faith and now face uncertainty about their future. She also highlighted concerns raised by the Refugee Council and Coram about the potential impact on refugees and children. Baroness Lister questioned why the Government’s impact assessments would not be published until implementation, arguing that this would be too late for meaningful scrutiny. She also pressed the Minister on how the changes could affect the Government’s commitments to reducing child poverty and homelessness and strengthening integration.
In response, Lord Collins, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Home Office, reiterated the Government’s commitment to working with the Department for Work and Pensions and engaging with affected groups. He stated that refugees would continue to receive protection for as long as necessary, with those arriving through resettlement and sponsored safe and legal routes eligible for settlement after five years. He also defended the earned settlement proposals, noting that some visa holders had expressed support during consultation. Lord Collins confirmed that the changes would be introduced in stages from December 2026, with further reforms in 2027 and 2028, and committed to publishing a full impact assessment and further technical details before implementation.