Visas: Highly Skilled People

Earl of Clancarty Excerpts

Wednesday 26th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-Afl)]

My Lords—

[The Earl of Clancarty (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (Con)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[The Earl of Clancarty (CB)]

My Lords, would the Minister agree that one of the problems with the immigration system for attracting exceptional emerging talent in the creative industries from abroad—it is the emerging talent we should be concentrating on—is that its inflexibility does not allow for the realities of this sector, where short-term contracts and portfolio careers, for example, are the norm? Are the Government looking at this?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for that question. It is an issue that he has raised before, and one about which I am concerned. Indeed, I addressed it in my maiden speech. As I have already said, we announced on 14 October that we will aim to double the number of highly skilled people coming to the UK on the high skilled routes, precisely to address the issues he raises relating to the creative sectors.