Migration Advisory Committee minutes, 15 January 2021
Updated 5 July 2022
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135th meeting of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)
Friday 15th January 2021 10am to 12:30pm
Video / Telephone Conference
Attending:
- Professor Brian Bell
- Dr Jennifer Smith
- Madeleine Sumption
- Professor Jo Swaffield
- Professor Jackline Wahba
- Della McVay
- MAC Secretariat
Agenda item 1 – Welcome
1. Brian opened the meeting. There were minor minute changes from last meeting.
Agenda item 2 – Home Office, MAC secretariat and MAC updates
2. Della McVay provided an update on Home Office business. Policy focus is currently on the new migration routes, looking ahead to next set of routes and working through prioritisation of next stages of the programme. Continuing to plan for next batch of rules around March. No update on MAC SOL recommendations.
3. Toby Nutley provided an update on secretariat business. There are delays to committee recruitment processes. Have agreement to employ secretariat staff in devolved administrations. Will be talking about evaluation in further detail in a future meeting. Following separate meeting are planned for Brian Bell: chair of DfE Skills Productivity Board, HO Immigration Director General and Scottish Immigration Minister.
4. Brian Bell requested any additional points to discuss with Immigration Director General.
Agenda item 3 – Feedback/lessons learned from annual report
5. The secretariat asked the committee for feedback on the annual review publication. The committee agreed that the time allowed for reviewing and comments was sufficient.
Agenda item 4 – Plans for the January stakeholder forum
6. The secretariat provided an update on the January stakeholder forum. No major issues to be addressed.
Agenda item 5 – Social care commission: Call for Evidence
7. Della McVay provided an update on delays to the MAC receiving the social care commission.
8. The secretariat presented a plan for the Call for Evidence. The committee suggested inviting relevant speakers in to present their research and discussed research questions.
Agenda item 6 – Social care commission: Scope and workplan
9. The secretariat provided an overview into the proposed analysis and data sources. The committee discussed additional questions. The committee agreed that it should consider all the issues from first principles, without this being conditioned by any previous MAC views on social care.
Agenda item 7 – ICT commission: Scope and workplan
10. The secretariat provided draft chapter structures for the ICT commission and asked the committee for guidance. The committee clarified timelines and a draft Call for Evidence will be available for review at the February committee meeting.
Agenda item 8 – Possible HMRC projects for 2021
11. The secretariat highlighted that the MAC have the potential to commission HMRC projects for this year and invited research area ideas from the committee.
Agenda item 9 – AOB
12. Brian Bell suggested drafting a short note for February committee meeting describing the current employment situation.
13. The committee agreed that the earlier paper submission dates were helpful.