It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Sir George Howarth. I congratulate Paul Blomfield on securing this debate, acknowledging it as an important issue with varied opinions from Members. The minister highlights that net migration in the year to June 2023 was estimated at 672,000 and stresses the need for decisive action to bring it down by tightening rules on care workers and skilled workers, ensuring support for family members being brought over. He argues that the policy will address the injustice of a system enabling employers to recruit cheap labour from overseas at the expense of British workers while putting unsustainable pressure on public services. The minister emphasises that seeing 120,000 dependants come with 100,000 care workers is unsustainable. He mentions tackling illegal migration and passing legislation to combat criminal gangs involved in people smuggling, noting tragic consequences this morning. The decision to raise the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) to £38,700 per year aligns with the aim of a high-wage, high-skill economy. The minister states that the MIR will prevent migrant partners from accessing public funds until they achieve settlement status. He notes ongoing workstreams with the Migration Advisory Committee on several fronts and highlights implementing the MIR increase incrementally without applying it retrospectively. Additionally, he mentions granting permission when to do otherwise would breach an applicant's article 8 right under the European convention on human rights. The minister concludes by asserting that reducing net migration numbers is a Government responsibility.