Work-based Immigration

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Monday 26th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dame Karen Bradley]

I thank the Chair of the Liaison Committee for her support allowing us to conduct this work. She makes an important point, and I am sure that many of us have enjoyed eating and drinking in the high-end, excellent restaurants in her constituency. We ensured that experts in the areas were involved in the evaluation committee, but it is a point that we will come back to during our work.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Chair of the Committee for her recommendations and for the hard work that the Committee does. When it comes to work-based immigration, has the Committee had the opportunity to look at seasonal visas for those in the fishing sector? The right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) and I have been pushing the Minister for some time to agree seasonal visas for the fishing sector. Previous meetings with Ministers would seem to suggest a way forward. I am ever mindful that this life is about solutions and opportunities. These people do not want to come to live here; they just want to come for a short period of time, earn money and send it home—and go home as well. Has the right hon. Lady had the opportunity to look at that?