Oral Answers to Questions

Jamie Wallis Excerpts

Monday 10th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

9. What plans she has to introduce a new points-based immigration system; and if she will make a statement.

[Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con)]

17. What plans she has to introduce an Australian-style points-based immigration system.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel)]

The Government will introduce a points-based immigration system that works in the interests of the United Kingdom, and that is fair and prioritises the skills people have to offer wherever they come from.

[Priti Patel]

Without wishing to compete with my hon. Friend’s beautiful rural constituency, I, too, have one. Of course, in order to take back control we are effectively bringing in these changes, and with that I am doubling the number of people who can go through the seasonal agricultural workers scheme, and more information will follow on that in due course.

[Dr Wallis]

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that such a points-based system will take account of the needs of communities across all regions of the United Kingdom, including my Bridgend constituency in Wales?

[Priti Patel]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question on the applicability of the points-based system, including to his beautiful Bridgend constituency, and of course he is absolutely right to raise that. We want the brightest and the best; we want to control immigration, but of course we want to bring that equalisation so that anybody from around the world—not just from the EU—who wants to come to the UK, including Bridgend, and has the skills to offer will be welcome.