Asked by: Rob Roberts (Independent - Delyn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps with the Home Secretary to waive the fees for overseas NHS workers applying for (a) indefinite leave to remain and (b) British citizenship with a caveat that those fees would become payable should those workers subsequently leave the employment of the NHS.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have made no specific assessment. However, we value and welcome the contribution of all overseas staff to the National Health Service and have introduced the Health and Care Visa, exempting overseas staff from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge and offering free and automatic visa extensions for those that were due to expire between 31 March 2020 and 31 March 2021.