Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government plans to take to prevent the potential loss of highly skilled workers in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

The Prime Minister has been clear that we want to strike an early agreement about the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and UK citizens living in the EU and give citizens as much certainty as possible, as early as possible. The Government’s policy paper (CM 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out detailed proposals on safeguarding the position of EU nationals living in the UK.

The UK will remain an open and tolerant country; one that recognises the valuable contribution migrants make to our society and welcomes those with the skills and expertise to make our nation better. After we leave the EU, we will control immigration so that we continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in the UK, but will manage the process properly so that our immigration system serves the national interest.

We are considering the options for our future immigration system very carefully. As part of that, it is important that we understand the impacts of different options on different sectors of the economy and the labour market. We will build a comprehensive picture of the needs and interests of all parts of the UK and look to develop a system which works for all.