Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of au pair schemes (1) in creating ties with young people from EU countries, (2) in promoting UK values to au pairs arriving in the UK, and (3) in providing affordable childcare.

As has been the case since 2008, the UK’s points-based immigration system will not offer a dedicated route for au pairs.

There are other immigration routes which will exist for people who may wish to take up these roles, such as those on the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS). The YMS results in around 20,000 young people from around the world, with capacity for more, to experience life in the UK. Each YMS is based on a reciprocal agreement giving benefits to UK Citizens as well.

Immigration cannot be seen as the sole solution to providing cheaper childcare, there are a wide-range of childcare options available in the UK which are relied upon by most families.