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The government will accept the recommendations of the review of the Windrush scandal in full, Priti Patel has announced.
The home secretary said the scandal wrought “unspeakable injustices” on people and highlighted “institutional failings” at the Home Office.
Patel said the scandal, which saw many people wrongly told they no longer had a right to be in the UK and some even deported, led to a “fundamental breakdown of trust” between the Windrush generation and the Home Office.
And she admitted that compensation for victims had been “far too slow”, following widespread criticism.
Making a statement in the Commons, Patel went on: “I have apologised for the appalling treatment suffered and on March 19 I made a statement after I received the long awaited Windrush lessons learned review from Wendy Williams.
“The review itself is damning of the conduct of the Home Office and unequivocal about the ignorance and institutional thoughtlessness towards the race and the history of the Windrush generation by the department.
“There are serious and significant lessons for the Home Office to learn.”
She said she was reviewing the Home Office’s leadership, the culture and practices and the way it treats all parts of the community.
“These reforms are only the start,” Patel said.
“I was clear that when Wendy Williams published her lessons learned review that I would listen and I would act.
“I have heard what she has said and I will be accepting the recommendations she has made in full.”
Patel’s announcement comes after more than 130,000 people signed a petition calling for the government to implement the recommendations made in the review.
The document, published in March, was critical of the “hostile environment” immigration policy introduced by then-home secretary Theresa May in 2012.
Williams’ report concluded that the Home Office had shown “ignorance and thoughtlessness” on the issue of race when some people were incorrectly told that they did not have the right to be in Britain.
The report made 30 recommendations, including that the government assess and limit the impact of the hostile environment on the Windrush generation.
It also called for a programme of reconciliation events with members of the Windrush generation, Home Office staff to undertake a comprehensive programme covering the history of the UK and its colonial history, and the appointment of a Migrants’ Commission which would be responsible for speaking up for migrants and those affected by the system.
Patel said more than £1m has been offered in compensation to victims of the scandal.
So far more than 12,000 people have now been granted immigration documentation by the Windrush task force, including more than 5,900 grants of citizenship.
Patel told MPs: “My determination to right the wrongs and the injustices suffered by the Windrush generation is undiminished and I will do all I can to make sure that more people are helped and more people are compensated in full. And if additional resources are needed, they will be provided.”
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds criticised the governemnt for being slow to compensate those affected by the scandal.
He said: “The government’s Windrush compensation scheme managed to compensate just 60 people in its first year of operation.
″[Patel] talked about more progress today but she must know that that rate of progress is just too slow given the number of years that have elapsed since this scandal first came to light and already this scheme has been in operation for over a year.”
Patel replied: “I agree, the payments and the way in which payments have been made have been far too slow,” but added: “I have outlined in my statement that it is right that we treat each individual with the respect and dignity they deserve. These are complicated cases.”