Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the migrant salary threshold of £25,600 on the labour market in Northern Ireland.

The MAC advised against regional variations in these thresholds. We will deliver a future immigration system which works for the whole of the UK.

The Government published “The UK’s Points-Based System: Policy Statement” on 19 February.

Aligned with the independent Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommendation, the Government will reduce both the general salary and skills thresholds for those who wish to come to the UK under the new skilled work route.

In delivering on its manifesto commitments for a new points-based system, the Government has considered relevant views, evidence, and analysis. We will also keep labour market data under careful scrutiny.

The Home Office will publish further detail on the points-based system in due course and continue to engage with stakeholders across Northern Ireland on our future migration system.