Transparency data

Migration Advisory Committee minutes, 13 October 2023

Updated 24 May 2024

Migration Advisory Committee 
2nd Floor
Peel Building NE 
2 Marsham Street 
London 
SW1P 4DF

168th meeting of the Migration Advisory Committee: minutes

Friday 13 October 2023 10:00 to 12:30 

Hybrid conference

Attending

• Professor Brian Bell
• Professor Dina Kiwan
• Professor Sergi Pardos-Prado
• Dr Madeleine Sumption
• Professor Jo Swaffield
• Della McVay
• Holly White
• MAC Secretariat

Agenda Item 1 – Welcome and Introductions

1. Brian Bell opened the meeting and welcomed the attendees. Brian also introduced four new starters to the Secretariat.

Agenda Item 2 – Introduction to Dan Hobbs, DG Migration and Borders Group

2. Dan Hobbs introduced himself to the Committee as Director General of the Migration and Borders Group in Home Office. Dan provided an overview of his portfolio and priorities. He left the meeting after this item.

Agenda item 3 – HMRC/Visa data matching

3. HMRC and Home Office officials presented to the Committee on an ongoing HMRC/Visa data matching exercise, highlighting the methodology and data being used, match rates achieved to date, and discussing further avenues for this project.

Agenda item 4 – Home Office, MAC Secretariat and MAC updates

4. Della McVay provided an update on Home Office business. Della highlighted that the first phase of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) mechanism is on track to launch this month to Qatar, with roll to further countries scheduled for next year. Della noted that net migration statistics are due to be released soon. Work is ongoing looking at non-compliance, overstaying, as well as on trade agreements.

5. Holly White provided an update on staffing and work priorities within the Secretariat with focus currently on the MAC’s 2023 Annual Report. Site visits are being organised to support the MAC’s Seasonal Work Visa inquiry.

6. Brian provided an overview of a recent meeting with the Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Brian also highlighted farm visits he made in Northern Ireland and Scotland linked to the ongoing Seasonal Worker Visa inquiry. Brian will be meeting the UK’s Minister for Immigration and a Home Secretary Special Adviser in the coming weeks.

Agenda item 5 – Annual Report: Net Migration chapter

7. A member of the Secretariat provided an updated draft of a chapter on net migration which will form part of the MAC’s 2023 Annual Report. Committee provided comment on the structure and content of this chapter and proposed additional areas for exploration.

Agenda item 6 – Annual Report: Health and Care chapter

8. A member of the Secretariat provided an updated draft of a chapter on the health and social care sector which will form part of the MAC’s 2023 Annual Report. Committee provided comment on the structure and content of this chapter and proposed additional areas for exploration.

Agenda item 7 – Annual Report: International Students chapter

9. A member of the Secretariat provided an updated draft of a chapter on international students which will form part of the MAC’s 2023 Annual Report. Committee provided comment on the structure and content of this chapter and proposed additional topics for inclusion.

Agenda item 8 – AOB

10. None.

Agenda item 9 – SOL Lessons Learned

12. The Committee discussed views from the recent Review of the Shortage Occupation List and implications for future MAC work.