THE EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS OF BEING A MIGRANT IN BRITAIN
Table 2.5 gender
Approved HSMP applications, 01/01/2006–31/12/2007, by age and
Age 18–25 26–27 28–29 30–31 32–33 34–35 36–39 40–44 45–49 50+ na Total
Old criteria Females Males % % 6.9 4.2 24.3 16.5 20.4 16.8 11.1 14.1 10.5 12.6 7.7 9.7 9.8 12.8 5.7 7.2 2.0 3.5 1.4 2.5 0.0 0.0 100.0 100.0
Total 960 3,621 3,449 2,581 2,336 1,780 2,328 1,321 597 430 2 19,405
New criteria Females Males % % 12.9 9.8 27.1 20.4 22.4 19.7 13.1 16.7 9.1 11.5 4.9 6.8 5.5 7.8 2.9 4.1 1.3 1.8 0.8 1.2 0.1 0.2 100.0 100.0
Total 3,304 6,870 6,314 4,818 3,331 1,918 2,192 1,151 496 327 65 30,786
Source: FOI, 2008, 841, 871
Disability: The PBS Impact Assessment reduces this strand to whether one can access the online application. BIA’s response was that they will make the content of the website accessible to a wide range of people with disabilities. However, a full assessment also has to consider the probability of earning lower salaries as a result of a significant disability, the difficulties of getting into the labour market with a disability and the likelihood of employers making reasonable adjustments for workers whose stay in the UK may be perceived as temporary in the first place. Many disabled people are likely to be disadvantaged by all requirements to accommodate and support without recourse to public funds (as applied to applications for leave to enter as spouses, civil partners, children, workers and students) because their disability may mean that the costs of their accommodation and support will be correspondingly higher than for those with no such disability. Sexual orientation: No impact assessment was identified in relation to the PBS. Civil partners are recognised in the rules, and allowed to enter and have the same leave as their partners on the PBS. Entering as a partner in a same-sex relationship has been made easier through changes in immigration rules which now place them in the same position as marriage, that is, able to enter for two years subject to a bar on recourse to public funds. More men (335) use this route than women (80) (Home Office, 2007a). There is the potential for discrimination where a civil partnership or marriage is not possible in the home country but the rules allow for cohabitees of two years’ standing to be granted entry and also for proposed civil partners to enter on the same terms as fiancé/es. Religious belief and opinion: No impact assessment in the PBS consultation. 28