Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the salary exemption announced for nurses under Tier 2 visas will be (a) maintained after the UK leaves the EU and (b) extended to EEA citizens; and what further steps the Government is taking to ensure effective recruitment from EU and non-EU countries to meet demand for NHS and social care staff after the UK leaves the EU.

We have been clear that we want all EU nationals, including those working in the NHS and the care sector, to stay in the UK after we leave the EU.

In December 2018, the Government set out its proposals in “the UK’s future Skills-based Immigration System” White Paper. In line with the independent Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommendations the White Paper proposes a new route for skilled workers, which will be open to occupations at RQF level 3 and above. The MAC also recommended maintaining the existing system of salary thresholds.

The Government has been clear that we will undertake an extensive pro-gramme of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, including with the private, public and voluntary sector and local govern-ment, as well as industry representatives and individual businesses before taking a final decision on the level of salary thresholds.

The White Paper also includes a transitional route for temporary workers which will be open to anyone from qualifying countries, wishing to fill positions at any skill level, for up to 12 months. We do not intend to impose a cap on the number of people wishing to use the route.