Asked by: Lord Rose of Monewden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Migration Advisory Committee Review of the Seasonal Worker Visa, published in July, whether they intend to commit to the long-term continuation of the Seasonal Worker Scheme; and what consideration they have given to providing notice of five years or more of any withdrawal from that scheme to allow adjustments to be made by the agricultural and retail sectors.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is carefully considering the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of the Seasonal Worker route and will announce a detailed response in due course.
Asked by: Lord Rose of Monewden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme as part of a national food security strategy.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is carefully considering the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of the Seasonal Worker route and will announce a detailed response in due course.
Asked by: Lord Rose of Monewden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 8 November (HL3116), whether they have since asked the Migration Advisory Committee to pause their review; and if so, (1) when, and (2) for what purpose; and when they expect completion of the review.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Government agreed the MAC should pause the SOL review while we consider the position on the topic of legal migration following the Office for National Statistics’ November publication of net migration estimates and in line with its manifesto commitments to bring overall numbers down. We will be setting out information on the Shortage Occupation List review shortly.
Asked by: Lord Rose of Monewden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Temporary Worker Seasonal Worker visa; and what plans they have, if any, to revise the scheme.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office keeps all aspects of the Seasonal Worker route under close and ongoing review. There are no current plans to make substantive revisions to this route.
Asked by: Lord Rose of Monewden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Migration Advisory Committee (1) to review skills shortages in the retail and hospitality sectors, and (2) to make recommendations to Government about potential visa routes for overseas workers to fill vacancies in those sectors.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). We therefore expect the MAC to launch its call for evidence shortly for all sectors- including retail and hospitality – to engage with and respond to.
Asked by: Lord Rose of Monewden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will next ask the Migration Advisory Committee to update the Shortage Occupation List.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). We therefore expect the MAC to launch its call for evidence shortly for all sectors- including retail and hospitality – to engage with and respond to.