Transparency data

Migration Advisory Committee minutes, 12 March 2021

Updated 5 July 2022

136th meeting of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)

Friday 12th March 2021 10am to 12:30pm

Video / Telephone Conference

Attending:

• Professor Brian Bell
• Madeleine Sumption
• Professor Jo Swaffield
• Professor Jackline Wahba
• Della McVay
• MAC Secretariat

Apologies: Dr Jennifer Smith

Agenda item 1 – Welcome

1. Brian opened meeting, there were minor minutes changes from last meeting.

Agenda item 2 – Home Office, MAC secretariat and MAC updates

2. Della McVay provided an update on Home Office business. Statement of change to immigration rules have been published. MAC SOL recommendations have been partially implemented. Home Office have agreed measures for high-skilled migration. Review of innovator visa route in innovation white paper. Launch of Global Business mobility visa brought forward. Support from DHSC minister for the social care commission and write-around deadline has lapsed.

3. Toby Nutley provided an update on secretariat business. Progress has been made in the recruitment process for secretariat staff in the devolved administrations. Committee member reappointments confirmed. The first cross-Whitehall stakeholder forum has been held. Discussion with DHSC regarding social care commission

Agenda item 3 – ICT policy paper

4. Secretariat asked the committee for comment on the proposed draft chapter structures, these were approved. Update from the meeting with MPU on ICT policy area.

Agenda item 4 – ICT impacts chapter

5. Secretariat asked the committee for guidance on the proposed ICT impacts chapter. Committee clarified timelines and raised issues with some of the proposed analyses.

Agenda item 5 – ICT external engagement

6. The secretariat provided an overview of upcoming stakeholder engagement. Committee agreed that UK-based firms in similar sectors should be included where possible in stakeholder engagement.

Agenda item 6 – ICT research and CfE

7. The secretariat asked for comments on the outlined research procurement. The committee agreed that a break-clause should be implemented in the external procurement and that ethical implications should be assessed by a Home Office ethical board.

Agenda item 7 – Employer research findings

8. The secretariat asked the committee for feedback on the interim findings of the employer research. The committee agreed that the research was helpful but wanted to focus on its findings, rather than implications for future MAC work, when publishing.

Agenda item 8 – Social Care Update

9. The secretariat updated the committee on planned work for the social care commission. Timing is still uncertain on when the commission will arrive.

Agenda item 9 – Social care CfE drafts

10. The secretariat informed the committee on changes to the CfE; these were approved. Agenda item 10 – Annual report options

11. The secretariat outlined the general approach as well as specific analytical projects for the annual report. The committee raised some concerns about the catch-all/thematic general approach.

Agenda item 11 – Indeed project scoping

12. The secretariat introduced the Indeed project and asked the committee for comments on the proposed work. No major issues were raised

Agenda item 12 – EAG Regional Pilot paper

13. The secretariat asked whether the committee would engage with the Scottish Government’s work to develop a pilot proposal. The committee agreed that cooperation would be helpful but is mindful of resource constraints in the secretariat. The committee also noted that its primary responsibility is to analyse UK immigration.

Agenda item 13 – Labour Market Statistics

14. The secretariat provided an update on ONS labour market statistics.

Agenda item 14 – AOB

15. The secretariat is planning a workshop for the ICT commission, this is expected to be in August.