Points-based Immigration System

The UK’s new immigration system will begin operating from January 2021. It prioritises skilled workers based on their job offer, language proficiency, and other criteria such as salary thresholds for various professions like healthcare and education. The system offers a fast-track decision process for NHS staff and a graduate route for international students after completing studies in the UK.

The policy will damage social care and the NHS due to underpaid staff being excluded. The requirement to speak English is a red herring, potentially splitting families and undermining global Britain's recruitment of top talent. Workers should not be tied to specific employers as it could imply bonded employment.

The policy focuses on skills rather than aspects of family reunion, benefits, welfare or access to public funds. It aims to end reliance on low-skilled workers and ensure higher wages for all. Social care should be about properly paid staff with compassionate care.

The purpose of the policy is ultimately to bring down migration numbers that are unprecedented at over 1 million over three years, contributing to about 80% of all population growth.

This pretend points-based system will be a disaster for industries in Scotland due to the salary thresholds and lack of transitional measures. It will destroy families and reduce migration which is a disastrous policy goal for Scotland.

Asked about enforcement of the new scheme through or with employers for the first six months.

Pointed out that the clock was ticking during the debate.

Congratulated the Home Secretary on implementing the new scheme in 100 days and ending low-pay migration.

Asked about enforcement of the new visa scheme through employers for the first six months.

Questioned whether the Home Secretary was going to reflect the democratic will of the British public in controlling immigration properly, and if she would do it in a way that worked for everyone’s national interest.

Asked about how the MAC would recognise emerging jobs in tech sectors with lower initial pay and ill-defined job titles.

Congratulated the Home Secretary on bringing forward a policy that gives flexibility to adapt needs to supply and demand, including new labour-saving technologies.

Argued against defining carers as low-skilled due to their pay and highlighted the need for better care sector conditions.

Asked about prioritising speed in appeals processes for highly skilled workers, even if they appear to be doing low-skilled jobs.

Challenged the idea that there would be no immigration route for lower-skilled workers and questioned who would take on essential roles such as building homes, serving in hotels and restaurants, and caring.

Indicated dissent.

Defended the points-based immigration system, emphasising its focus on attracting high-skilled workers and fostering domestic skills development.

Asked about plans to cap the number of people who can qualify for a tier 1 exceptional-talent visa status.

Expressed concerns about the impact on construction sector's self-employed contractors due to skills shortages and lack of dedicated self-employment route.

Asked for confirmation that the new NHS visa will facilitate quick and easy entry for healthcare professionals from around the world.

Questioned the potential damage to research sector by pursuing immigration targets, referring to Albert Einstein as an example of exceptional talent.

Welcomed quadrupling of seasonal agricultural workers scheme and requested flexibility for future increases.

Criticised the system's negative impact on lab technicians and care workers, demanding a fairer system reflecting economic needs.

Welcomed introduction of skilled points-based immigration system and called for increased resources to tackle illegal immigration.

Asked about reported savings requirements on performers coming in, highlighting concerns from the music industry.

Supported points-based system for controlling immigration policy, emphasising its contribution to a high-wage economy.

Challenged the effectiveness of quadrupling seasonal agricultural workers scheme in addressing labour shortages across the UK.

Called for quicker answers from Home Secretary to allow more MPs to contribute.

Welcomed opportunities for Commonwealth English-speaking people to work in the NHS, advocating a fair system.

Asked Secretary of State to address anger and hurt caused by her comments regarding care workers and discussed funding for ending low pay in social care.

Questioned the Opposition's support for a discriminatory scheme against non-EU citizens, advocating for fairness.

Emphasised that the points-based system is open and fair, ending discrimination in immigration. The system will welcome individuals with the right skills and treat them equally.

Asked about the tier 5 rules currently stopping supply priests from Africa getting short-term visas during summer months.

Asked for confirmation on the protection of EU citizens' rights in the UK under the EU settlement scheme, noting that over 2.8 million people have been granted settled status.

Brought up cases of highly skilled migrants being put into debt and bankrupted due to paragraph 322(5) of the immigration rules, questioning if the Government truly values these skilled individuals.

Congratulated the Home Secretary on getting a grip on uncontrolled immigration and asked for assurance that flexibility will be retained in the system.

Asked if denying migrant workers the right to bring their family is inflexible and a breach of Human Rights Act 1998.

Discussed how universities welcome the new immigration system, allowing them to recruit from all corners of the world. Mentioned that this system will allow decent wages for recruited individuals.

Critiqued the Government's view on care workers as low skilled and denied them special status offered to others, questioning which aspects of care work are considered low skilled by the Secretary of State.

Replied that she is working with the Department of Health and Social Care on routes into and support for social care workers, also mentioning investment in social care.