Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including dentists and dental nurses on the shortage occupations list.

Dentists and dental nurses are eligible occupations under the Health & Care visa route and their salary requirements are set according to national pay scales, which means they already receive comparable benefits to being on the Shortage Occupation List.

The Government launched the Health & Care visa in August 2020 making it easier, cheaper, and quicker for health workers to come to the UK to work compared to other immigration routes. Visa applicants pay a lower fee, they are subject to quicker processing time and also have a dedicated UKVI team that assists them with the application process. In addition, visa holders are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge.