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 increases to the Immigration Health Surcharge on household debt for migrant workers.

Regulations will be laid in Autumn to amend the Immigration Health Surcharge (Heath Charge) Order and a full economic impact assessment will be prepared.

The expectation of the Government is that migrants coming to the UK to work should be able to maintain and support themselves, reflecting the principle that immigration to our country should bring economic benefits.

The Immigration Health Surcharge rates have not increased since 2020, and the cost of providing public services has increased in that time. It is right that we keep the IHS level under review to ensure that it reflects the genuine cost to the NHS of providing healthcare to those who pay it.