Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2017 to Question 107878, on the international skills charge, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the financial effect on mental health trusts of the introduction of the international skills charge for psychiatrists who do not have a PhD and who are on tier 2 visas.

The Migration Advisory Committee in their review of Tier 2 in December 2015 strongly supported the introduction of the Immigration Skills Charge and was clear that it should apply to the public sector, including the NHS.

The rate and scope of the charge, including exemptions from the charge, were agreed in discussion with other government departments, including the Department of Health.