Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy statement, the UK's points-based immigration system, published on 19 February 2020, what the timescale is for the production and publication of the Migration Advisory Committee’s shortage occupation list; and whether that list will include health and social care workers.

We will shortly be commissioning the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to produce a shortage occupation list covering all jobs encompassed by the new skilled worker route, for introduction from January 2021, and to keep the list under regular review.

It is right the Government waits for the MAC’s recommendations before commenting on whether specific occupations will be included and taking any final decisions.