Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to provide Tier 2 visa cap exemptions for foreign nationals on (a) Government Shortage Occupation Lists and (b) working at PhD level roles in the event that the UK leaves the EU.

In July 2017, the Government 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. The MAC’s call for evidence sought information on EU migrants’ skills, amongst other things, and this will be considered in their final report due in September 2018. Details can be found on the gov.uk website at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-and-briefing-note-eea-workers-in-the-uk-labour-market.

The Government will take account of the MAC’s advice when making any final decisions about our future immigration system for EU nationals.