Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether any exemptions from the Immigration Skills Charge will be available to (a) NHS and (b) other public sector employers.
Answered by Robert Halfon
Exemptions from the Immigration Skills Charge for employers were announced on 24 March 2016. These include exemptions for employers of specified occupations skilled to PhD level and individuals switching from a Tier 4 student visa to Tier 2 (General). All employers, including the NHS and other public sector employers, who recruit workers through the Tier 2 skilled worker route will benefit from these exemptions.
We have not estimated the annual cost of the charge to providers. The cost will depend on employer use of the Tier 2 skilled worker route.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the UK's decision to leave the EU on student and staff numbers in the higher education sector.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
EU students and staff make an important contribution to our world class Higher Education sector, and we want that to continue.
Any effects on student and staff numbers following the UK's exit from the EU will be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK's relationship with the EU.