Letter to Immigration Minister regarding MAC inquiry into Seasonal Worker visa (accessible)
Published 24 March 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-immigration-minister-on-seasonal-worker-visa-inquiry/letter-to-immigration-minister-regarding-mac-inquiry-into-seasonal-worker-visa-accessible
From:
Migration Advisory Committee
2nd Floor
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
To:
Minister of State for Immigration
Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
22 March 2023
Dear Minister,
I am writing on behalf of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to inform you that we are launching an inquiry into the Seasonal Worker visa (SWV). Under the terms of the framework agreement between the Home Office and the MAC, we are able, alongside commissioned work from the government, to engage in work of our own choosing and to comment on the operation of any aspect of the immigration system.
Our intention is to take a broad perspective on this inquiry and consider all aspects of the SWV. This will include consideration of the rules under which the scheme operates, the size and costs of the scheme, the potential for exploitation and poor labour market practice, evidence from international comparisons and the long-run need for such a scheme.
We have no fixed view on the merits of the scheme, but believe it is a good time to review it given that it has been in operation for a number of years.
We will engage actively with all interested stakeholders and the devolved administrations.
I am copying the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries for information. We will obviously seek to work co-operatively with DEFRA on this inquiry.
As outlined in the framework document, we will ensure that this inquiry does not impede the delivery of our report on the shortage occupation list that the Home Secretary requested on 16 February 2023.
On behalf of the Migration Advisory Committee,
Yours sincerely,
Professor Brian Bell
Chair, Migration Advisory Committee
cc:
Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries
The Migration Advisory Committee is a non-departmental public body funded by the Home Office.