Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the shortage of health care assistants for working age disabled people; and to address any such shortage, what plans they have (1) to review the criteria for the sponsorship of overseas workers, and (2) to adjust the criteria so that disabled people are able to directly employ personal carers.

Following a recommendation by the independent Migration Advisory Committee in their most recent annual report, the Government has made care worker, care assistant and home care worker roles (Standard Occupation Classification code 6145) eligible for the Health and Social Care Visa and added them to the Shortage Occupation List.

However, the sponsorship system is designed to strike the balance between enabling UK employers to recruit overseas workers, while ensuring employers only sponsor workers who are eligible for visas, that those they do sponsor will comply with the conditions of their visa and that the safety and wellbeing of those workers is safeguarded. This approach ensures the integrity of the immigration system and provides important safeguards for those who migrate to the UK and for individuals requiring care.

The Government has no plans change this position.