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Migration Advisory Committee minutes, 21 January 2022

Updated 6 July 2023

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147th meeting of Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)

Friday 21st January 2022, 10:00 to 12:30

Video/Telephone Conference

Attending

  • Professor Brian Bell
  • Professor Dina Kiwan
  • Professor Jo Swaffield
  • Madeleine Sumption
  • Professor Sergi Pardos-Prado
  • Della McVay
  • Toby Nutley
  • Social Care Expert Panel
  • MAC Secretariat

Agenda item 1 - Welcome and introductions

1. Brian Bell opened the meeting and welcomed back the social care expert panel.

Agenda item 2 - Social Care: Government Response to the MAC’s Annual Report

2. Della McVay gave an update on the steps taken by the Home Office in response to the MAC’s social care recommendations in the Annual Report, responding to questions and comments from the committee and social care expert panel.

Agenda item 3 - Social Care: Report Timelines and Skeleton

3. The secretariat asked for comments on the revised structure of the social care report, updated timelines for key meetings, and agreement on chapter leads within the committee.

4. The committee and social care expert panel suggested some amendments to the proposed content and structure of the report. Committee leads for each chapter were agreed.

Agenda item 4 - Social Care: Research

5. The secretariat asked for comments and agreement on proceeding with the proposed additional primary research for the Social Care Report.

6. The social care expert panel suggested an alternative approach be taken and this was agreed by the committee, with the option of reviewing again later.

Agenda item 5 – Departure of Social Care Expert Panel

7. Brian thanked the social care expert panel for attending. Further comments and discussions will be conducted via correspondence.

Agenda item 6 - Home Office, MAC Secretariat and MAC updates

8. Della McVay provided an update on Home Office business. The social care recommendations made in the MAC’s annual report were accepted and should be in place by mid-February. Progress is being made on updates to the seasonal work route, however, some policy mechanisms are still to be decided.

9. Toby Nutley provided an update on secretariat business. Toby updated the committee on upcoming staffing changes within the secretariat, committee, and Home Office, including the new Director General, Emma Churchill, who is set to meet with both Brian and Toby. Discussions around future commissions are ongoing, including a review of the benefits and occupations on the SOL.

10. Brian had no additional comments but asked the committee to indicate their hybrid working preferences for future MAC meetings. It was agreed in person meetings would take place once every quarter, with the remaining meetings taking place virtually.

Agenda item 7 - SOL Evidence

11. The secretariat asked the committee for feedback on the primary research evidence historically used when reviewing the SOL, presenting the methods previously used alongside some proposed changes.

12. The committee confirmed where primary research would best be used and suggested amendments to the current survey and guidance used in the call for evidence.

Agenda item 8 – SOL Indicators

13. The secretariat asked the committee to comment on the indicators produced by SPB and their proposed usage in future SOL reviews.

14. The committee raised some concerns over the indicators, highlighting data limitations and that some were outcome, not driving, indicators but were broadly happy to continue using them.

Agenda item 9 - Migrant Wage Progression Scoping

15. The secretariat asked for feedback on the proposed plan to research changes in migrant wages over time.

16. The committee amended the scope slightly but were broadly content with the plan outlined, noting that this would not be possible until the data can be cleaned correctly. The secretariat are currently working to achieve this.

Agenda item 10 – AOB

17. No other business was raised. Brian Bell closed the meeting at 12.30.

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