Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with UK businesses regarding the need for more EU nationals to be permitted to work in the UK; and what steps they are taking as a result.

The Home Office regularly engages with other Government Departments and stakeholders on departmental business.

Employers should focus on investing in our domestic workforce and, in the first instance, raise general recruitment issues with the Department for Work and Pensions, rather than the Home Office. This is especially relevant at a time when many face the need to look for new employment as a result of the economic impact of the pandemic.

Our Points Based System does not judge people based on whether they hold an EU or Non-EU passport, but based on the requirements of the system, including skills and salary thresholds, being met.

Modelling by the independent Migration Advisory Committee suggests these thresholds strike a reasonable balance between controlling immigration and business access to labour.