Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her statement on Sky news on 19 February 2020 that businesses should skill up the 8.5 million economically inactive, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on providing additional to help (a) students, (b) long-term sick, (c) carers and (d) retired people into work.

Immigration must be considered alongside investment in and development of the UK’s domestic labour force. There are over eight million economically inactive people in the UK, nearly two million of whom say they want a job.

3.8 million more people are now in work compared to 2010, and our new points-based immigration system will encourage businesses to support more people into employment.

In delivering on its manifesto commitments for a new points-based system, the Government has considered relevant views, evidence, and analysis, especially from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.