Question follow-through · 14511

Undocumented Migrants

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what methodology was used to estimate the figure of 412,000 illegal migrants in the United Kingdom.

answeredHome Office

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Home Office
Tabled
30 Jun 2026
Target answer date
2 Jul 2026
Answer
14 Jul 2026 · 14 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

Recorded timeline

  1. 30 Jun 2026

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what methodology was used to estimate the figure of 412,000 illegal migrants in the United Kingdom.

  2. 2 Jul 2026

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 14 Jul 2026

    Answer published

    The figure was derived from a review of Home Office case working systems and includes individuals who are believed to be in the UK and do not have valid leave recorded. The figure also includes foreign nationals who hold valid leave but are being consider...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

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