Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to assess their Points-Based System for skilled and qualified migrant workers, so as to give extra points to those having close relatives already lawfully resident in the UK.

We regularly review the Points-Based System to ensure it continues to meet the UK’s interests and to attract the best and brightest from around the world but will not be making the change suggested. Adding points for having close relatives in the UK would undermine the intentions of this route as one focussed on employment and providing labour needed in the economy.

There are separate migration routes which those seeking to join family members in the UK can consider.