Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 21 December 2022 (HL4133), when they expect the Migration Advisory Committee to restart their review of the Shortage Occupation List; and when they expect the Committee to report.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Government is considering its 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 Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 21 December 2022 (HL4133), what changes they are considering to the workplan of the Migration Advisory Committee; and when they expect to publish changes to the workplan.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Government is considering its 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 Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 21 December (HL4133), what are the “other migration issues” to which he referred.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Government is considering its 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 Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Migration Advisory Committee will report its recommendations to change the shortage occupation list (SAL).
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Government has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to review the Shortage Occupation List, however the review is currently paused.
The Home Office is working closely with the Migration Advisory Committee in considering their workplan, in light of other migration issues.
Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to change immigration rules to allow more HGV drivers to be recruited from overseas.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In response to the current exceptional circumstances facing businesses at this time, we have made available 5,000 visas for HGV drivers to enter the UK on a short-term basis to support the fuel and food supply sector. In line with other routes, eligibility for the visa is not based on whether an applicant is an EU national.
This is a temporary measure leading into Christmas to mitigate some of the acute issues experienced at this particular time and until the range of other measures, including ramping up testing capacity and the creation of new Skills Bootcamps for HGV drivers, bite.
Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to introduce the Tier 3 visa for unskilled migrants in order to meet labour shortages.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The precise way in which the Government will control migration to the UK following exit from the EU is yet to be determined.
In July 2017, the Government commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the economic and social impacts of the UK’s exit from the European Union and also on how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy. The MAC’s final report is due later this month.
We will build a comprehensive picture of the needs and interests of all parts of the UK, taking account of the evidence from the MAC, and look to develop a system which works for all.
Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the State of Trade Survey: Q3 2017 by the Federation of Master Builders, whether they intend to add carpenters and joiners to the shortage occupation list; and what action they intend to take to address the skills shortage of carpenters and joiners.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In July, the Government has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the full composition of the Shortage Occupation List. The MAC has been asked to report by Spring 2019. The review will begin shortly and the MAC will publish its findings and recommendations. The Government will consider all recommendations made by the MAC.
Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the independent Migration Advisory Committee to complete its review of the shortage occupation lists; whether they will publish the findings of that review once it has been completed; and whether they intend to implement its recommendations in full.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In July, the Government has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the full composition of the Shortage Occupation List. The MAC has been asked to report by Spring 2019. The review will begin shortly and the MAC will publish its findings and recommendations. The Government will consider all recommendations made by the MAC.
Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to remove vets from the Tier two visa cap.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
On 15 June, the Government announced a temporary change to the Tier 2 (General) cap. This is designed to address particular pressures facing the NHS at the current time but will mean that more spaces will be freed up within the cap for other sponsored high-skilled occupations, including vets. This change came into effect on 6 July and will be kept under review.
In parallel, we have commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a full review of the composition of the Shortage Occupation List. This review will enable the MAC to look at which posts are in national shortage and should be given priority within the Tier 2 cap in future. That review will conclude in Spring 2019.
Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the terms of reference for the review of Tier 2 visas; and when they expect to announce any changes to the Tier 2 visa policy.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
On Friday 15 June, the Government announced changes to the allocation of places within the Tier 2 (General) cap of 20,700. The change – which will be implemented through amended Immigration Rules coming into effect on 6 July – will ensure that all doctors and all nurses needed in the UK will be able to be recruited to work here without being counted against the cap. This is intended to be a temporary change which recognises the importance of alleviating pressure on the NHS and which creates extra space within the cap for other sectors of the economy.
In parallel to this change, we have also commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the full composition of the Shortage Occupation List.