PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Immigration: Skilled Workers (14 November 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Ministers from other Departments on the value to the UK economy of mid-level skills or those skills at Standard Occupational Classification levels 2 and 3; and what plans her Department has to ensure that any future changes to immigration policy allow businesses to continue to access those mid-level skills necessary for growth and employment in the UK.

Asked by:
Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Labour)

We are considering a range of options for our future immigration arrangements and are clear that we must manage the process properly so that the system serves the national interest.

On 27 July 2017, we commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the economic and social impacts of the UK’s exit from the European Union and also on how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy. As part of this, the MAC has been asked to consider a number of factors including skill level.

They are due to report on their findings in September 2018.

Full details about the MAC commission can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/migration-advisory-committee

Answered by:
Sir Brandon Lewis (Conservative)
17 November 2017