Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Adult Dependent Relative visa eligibility criteria, introduced in 2012, on pressure on NHS and Social Care services.

The family Immigration Rules were reformed in July 2012 to prevent burdens on the taxpayer, promote integration and tackle abuse, and thereby ensure family migration to the UK is on a properly sustainable basis which it is fair to migrants and the wider community.

We reformed the route for adult dependent relatives, given the significant NHS and social care costs which can be associated with these cases and to reduce pressure on the health system. Under the current Rules adult dependent relatives must demonstrate, as a result of age, illness or disability, they require a level of long-term personal care which can only be provided in the UK by their sponsor here and without recourse to public funds.

The Home Office continues to keep the Immigration Rules for adult dependant relatives under review and make adjustments in light of feedback on their operation and impact. However, our overall assessment is the rules represent a fairer deal for the taxpayer, are having the right impact and are helping to ensure public confidence in the immigration system and reduce pressure on our healthcare system.