Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reported difficulties experienced by the London Diocesan Board for Schools in obtaining restricted certificates of sponsorship for teacher visas; and of the impact this may have on teacher recruitment in London.

The government recognises the important contribution that international teachers, and other highly skilled migrants, make to the UK and we keep all of our immigration routes under review.

On 15 June, the government announced changes to the allocation of places within the Tier 2 (General) cap of 20,700 migrants. The change will be implemented through amended immigration rules coming into effect on 6 July 2018. It will exempt all doctors and nurses needed in the UK from the cap. This change, which is intended to be temporary, alleviates pressure on the NHS. It also creates extra space within the cap for other sectors of the economy, including international teachers.

As part of this announcement, the government will be asking the independent Migration Advisory Committee to review the full composition of the Shortage Occupation List.