Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include key construction trades on the Shortage Occupation List to make it easier for migrants to apply for work visas to fill vacancies in that sector.

In March, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the composition of the Shortage Occupation Lists (SOL) in light of the expanded skills threshold of the new Skilled Worker route, which will come into effect on 1 December.

The MAC published its findings and recommendations on 29 September. The Government welcomes the MAC’s comprehensive advice, which included a recommendation to add bricklayers and masons; however, we do not consider changes to the SOLs should be made at this time, before assessing how the UK labour market develops postCovid19 and in response to the introduction of the new Points-Based Immigration System.

As published on 22 October, the Immigration Rules for the new Points-Based Immigration System include an Appendix Shortage Occupation Lists. This replaces the existing lists under Appendix K. The contents are the same.