Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the level of the fee to apply for indefinite leave to remain on the retention of healthcare workers on Health and Care Worker visas.

The Government has seen no indication that the level of the fee to apply for indefinite leave to remain is deterring the retention of healthcare workers on Health and Care Worker visas and no separate assessment has been undertaken.

The Home Office introduced the Health and Care visa on 4 August 2020. This delivers and builds upon the Government’s commitment to introduce a route which makes it quicker, easier and significantly cheaper for eligible people working in health and social care to come to the UK with their families and those who are extending their visa. This offer has been well received by the sector, with the latest immigration figures show there is a sizeable uptake of this visa offer by the sector: Why do people come to the UK? To work - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).