Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to encourage highly skilled UK nationals based overseas to return to this country following the UK's departure from the EU; and if he will make a statement.

The rights of UK nationals who wish to continue living in the EU beyond 31st December 2020 have been secured through the Withdrawal Agreement. UK citizens living and working in the EEA or Switzerland by the end of the transition period can bring their close family members back to the UK with them under current conditions, to enable their family members to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, until 29 March 2022, as long as the relationship was formed by 31 January 2020. We will continue to maintain up-to-date guidance on the Gov.uk website for any UK national living abroad who is considering returning to the UK. We would welcome UK nationals of whatever skill level who wish to return to the UK, whether from within or beyond the EU.