Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase the Minimum Income Requirement for spousal visas.

The Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) was implemented in July 2012, following advice from the Migration Advisory Committee, reflecting the income at which a British family could no longer access income-related benefits. It was introduced to ensure family migrants are supported at a reasonable level, do not become a burden on the taxpayer and can participate sufficiently in everyday life to facilitate their integration into British society.

We keep all our immigration routes under review.