A main story on BBC this morning is about how collection of UK migration figures is not fit for purpose as reported on the BBC website here.
The problem is that measuring who is going in and out of the country is designed on different purposes like measuring tourism and fighting terrorism.
Some different solutions have been mentioned:
- The “oh no” solution: More data collection
- The shiny new solution: Big Data
- The unwanted solution: Master Data Management
The “oh no” solution: More data collection
Imagining you have to fill in endless forms with rigid checks when going in and out of the airports and ferry ports adding to the checks and security controls already in place. Oh no.
The shiny new solution: Big Data
A system of collecting data from passenger lists on ferries and airplanes called e-Borders is already being implemented and there are hopes that joining these new big data with the old system of record will improve accuracy. Oh, really.
The unwanted solution: Master Data Management
As said in an expert interview on TV the only sustainable solution is a central citizen registry – a solution not unknown for immigrants as me coming from Scandinavia. However, as reported here this solution is unwanted in the UK.
Liliendahl on Data Quality 