The Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill

Brief update

The Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill is currently going through the Westminster Parliament. It includes several elements that relate to social work practice including human rights.

The journey of the Bill has been erratic having first been presented in 2018. Labour and Conservative MPs had already placed a number of amendments on impact on the workforce and Indefinite Leave to Remain for children in care only to see them defeated by a Government majority. The Bill has recently moved to the Lords where amendments to include the following have been won and now stand as part of the Bill:

  • An independent review of the impact on ending free movement on the social care workforce
  • Children in care being granted automatic Indefinite Leave to Remain under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • Ensuring that rights under UK law to family reunion are continued after the transition period
  • And that unaccompanied child refugees in Europe will have a legal route to sanctuary in the UK

The Bill now moves onto Third Reading due to take place on 12th October before it begins ‘parliamentary ping-pong’ when it returns to the Commons to consider the amendments that the House of Lords made to the Bill.

Watch this space….