Transparency data

Migration Advisory Committee minutes, 23 April 2021

Updated 5 July 2022

138th meeting of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)

Friday 23rd April 2021 1pm to 3:30pm

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 and introductions

1. Brian opened the meeting. Minor amendments were suggested to agenda item 12 to the minutes of the previous meeting, which was agreed by the committee.

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

2. Della McVay provided an update on Home Office business. Skilled worker changes and SOL recommendation changes have commenced. Global Talent changes are due to go live on 5th May. Guidance has been published on the circumstances where people have such as reasonable excuse for not making an application to the EUSS within the grace period. Home Office are still receiving lots of questions regarding the grace period. Government are still working through the Social Care commission and making progress. Home Office are working on the plan for immigration and consultation on this currently - it is getting lots of responses and team are busy working on the size and shape of the Bill that will need to be introduced for the measures around Sovereign Borders. Home Office are working with the Indian government on migration and analysis. There are queries on when we will negotiate Youth Mobility Schemes with individual Member States. Home Office are still working on clearing the FBIS strategy document which has prompted on a lot of comments. Another live area of Policy in the coming weeks is Investor Visas. There is ongoing focus on the new Points Based Route and the Innovator visa review as they have the most policy development work.

3. Toby Nutley provided an update on secretariat business. Committee member appointments have been confirmed. We have finalised recruitment for secretariat staff in devolved administrations. Recruitment for the research team is currently underway. Toby Nutley provided an update on the call for evidence for the ICT commission. The Windrush team are looking to recruit a migrant’s commissioner.

Agenda item 3 – ICT Salary thresholds chapter skeleton

4. The Secretariat asked the committee for comment on the proposed skeleton of the ICT salary thresholds chapter. The Committee raised a few questions which were discussed. The overall skeleton was approved by the committee with minor comments to be noted.

Agenda item 4 – ICT undercutting analysis

5. The Secretariat provided an update on the ICT undercutting analysis. The committee provided their views and asked additional questions.

Agenda item 5 – ICT research

6. The secretariat provided an overview of the ICT research and elements regarding the research. The committee discussed additional questions and agreed a way forward.

Agenda item 6 – Feedback on stakeholder events

7. The Secretariat provided an update on the stakeholder engagements that have been completed so far and that there have been consistent themes from these engagements. The Secretariat also provided an update on all the upcoming stakeholder engagements.

Agenda item 7 – SOL links with Skills and Productivity Board

8. The Secretariat provided a brief update on the Skills and Productivity Board. The committee agreed we should work with the Skills and Productivity Board

Agenda item 8 – LFS and RTI stats update

9. The Secretariat updated the committee on LFS and RTI stats.

Agenda item 9 – AOB

10. No other business was raised.