Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 December 2023, Official Report, column 41, on what evidential basis his Department decided to set a minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas at £38,700; whether his Department held discussions with (a) the Migration Advisory Committee and (b) relevant stakeholders before changing the minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting a lower threshold.

The Government engages regularly with the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and business sectors through a number of advisory groups when developing its policies. The Government will be engaging with the MAC and business on aspects of the package in due course. Careful analysis has been undertaken to support decision making in this process and a Regulatory Impact Assessment will be developed in due course.