Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the White Paper, The UK’s future skills-based immigration system, published on 19 December 2018, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Secretary on the effect of the proposed minimum salary requirement of £30,000 for skilled migrants on the Welsh economy.

The independent Migration Advisory Committee recommended retaining the existing £30,000 salary threshold for skilled workers.

The Government agrees with the Migration Advisory Committee’s view that the salary thresholds should ensure that migrants are raising the level of productivity in the UK, making a positive contribution to public finances and are not putting downward pressure on earnings. This salary threshold is an important control to ensure migration is managed at sustainable levels. However, before confirming the level of a future salary threshold the Government will engage extensively with businesses and employers, consider wider evidence of the impact on the economy, and take into account current pay levels in the UK economy.

The Government currently maintains a Shortage Occupation List which is used to give priority to individuals within the highly-skilled route cap, and to exempt migrants from minimum salary thresholds required for settlement if they are in a shortage occupation. The Home Secretary has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review the current Shortage Occupation List.

The Migration Advisory Committee will be commissioned to provide an annual report on key aspects of the UK’s immigration system, including to advise on whether detailed arrangements such as the levels of salary thresholds, and the Shortage Occupation List, need to be revised in light of economic and social circumstances, and any emerging or longer-term trends that may impact the labour market. The Government will also invite the Migration Advisory Committee to examine the case for a Wales specific Shortage Occupation List.