Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the ability of NHS trusts to secure Tier 2 visas for junior doctors in disciplines that are not on the shortage occupation list.

The Government recognises fully the contribution that doctors working in the NHS – and other professionals – make to the UK.

Doctors in specialisms which the Migration Advisory Committee have recognised as being in shortage in the UK already receive priority within the Tier 2 allocation system. We continue to monitor the operation of Tier 2 to ensure that it strikes the right balance between supporting employers – including the NHS - accessing talent from overseas and that it works in the national interest and protects the resident labour market. Over a third of all Tier 2 places go to the NHS.

The Government has taken steps to boost doctors training places and a record number of undergraduates will begin medical training by 2020 with 1,500 new places.