21.In July 2011 the Home Office published a consultation paper on Family Migration.(3) On 11 June 2012 the Government published its response to the consultation setting out that Immigration Rules would be made to reflect the Government’s and Parliament’s view of how the balance should be struck between the right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the ECHR and the public interest, including safeguarding the economic well-being of the UK, enforcing immigration controls and protecting the public from foreign criminals.(4) New Immigration Rules came into force on 9 July 2012.(5) The Act gives the force of primary legislation to the principles reflected in those rules by requiring a court or tribunal, when determining whether a decision is in breach of Article 8 ECHR, to have regard to the public interest considerations as set out in the Act.
Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC194, published 13 June 2012
