The data provided was supplied with the explanation that “the figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change”. The source of the management information examined was the UK Border Agency’s Casework Information Database (CID). CID is an administrative tool, used by the UK Border Agency to perform all casework tasks including recording all applications with the related casework and decisions. It is regularly updated by caseworkers as they progress applications. Caseworkers record key details about particular applicants on CID, including a “nationality” section. This electronic file is kept updated by caseworkers. CID consists of four so-called “flavours” or parts that are mainly used to segregate user profiles, which are: 1) ACID: asylum cases recorded at Public Enquiry Offices (PEO) 2) ICID: immigration cases including visitors and spouses as well as asylum cases (only where the applicant claims asylum at the border); 3) NCID: nationality cases;54 4) GCID: general settlement cases: i.e. marriage, sponsorship, and indefinite leave to remain. Given that some individuals relevant to the research were likely to have made multiple applications across different CID “flavours”, it was agreed that management data provided by the UK Border Agency would be recorded against individuals rather than applications in order to avoid duplication or double counting. Therefore where “cases” are referred to this includes the main applicant plus dependants. Consequently, where data is disaggregated by different CID “flavours” it should be noted that this refers to the first application made by an individual, and therefore would exclude subsequent applications made in different “flavours”. There remain several problems, however, with the accuracy of CID management information, as described below. Relevant categories in CID CID records four “nationality”55 groupings relevant to this project. In day-to-day use, caseworkers register applications on “nationality fields” from a drop down menu. The relevant “nationality” categories are identified as: 1) Nationality currently unknown; 2) Stateless person (Article 1 of 1954 Convention); 3) Officially stateless; and, 4) Unspecified nationality Guidance exists on aspects of CID usage within instructions for UK Border Agency caseworkers, which are publicly available. The guidance given in respect of statelessness, however, is limited. It includes, for example, directions about how information on disputed nationality in asylum claims should be entered onto CID, including disputed stateless cases. The instructions state, in respect of disputed statelessness cases, that: “An applicant’s nationality should only be recorded as Stateless on CID where the applicant has produced a Convention document which defines them as Stateless under 30 54 No clear guidance was available on the case files allocated to this flavour of CID. 55 The UK Border Agency uses the term “nationality” when referring to stateless relevant categories, despite the contradiction this poses. Mapping statelessness