Overview

This bill mandates that local authorities in the UK share data on the nationality of residents with the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This aims to improve the accuracy and completeness of national statistics on foreign nationals.

Description

The Foreign Nationals (Statistics) Bill amends the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. It introduces a new section (47A) requiring local authorities to disclose information about the nationality of residents to the ONS. This duty applies even if existing laws or regulations would otherwise prevent the disclosure. The regulations will specify the exact information required and the meaning of "local authority". The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. The costs will likely be related to implementing the data collection and transfer processes, and may involve additional staffing or IT infrastructure for both local authorities and the ONS. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: They will be required to collect and share resident nationality data, potentially increasing their administrative burden and IT costs.
• Office for National Statistics (ONS): They will receive and process the additional data, improving the accuracy of national statistics on foreign nationals.
• Residents: Their nationality data will be collected and shared, raising potential privacy concerns.

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