Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the points based immigration system and global talent visas announced in Budget 2021, how many visa applications were rejected in 2021 that would otherwise have been approved under those announced changes; and whether her Department will seek to grant those announced changes in retrospect to people who would have been eligible under the new systems but otherwise had their visa applications rejected.

The Rules will apply to all applications decided on or after 5 May 2021.

We are confident, no one who qualifies under the new provisions for prize winners would be refused under the current requirements.