Correspondence

Commissioning letter to the MAC for the review of adult social care (accessible version)

Published 7 July 2021

Professor Brian Bell
Migration Advisory Committee
1st Floor Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

6 July 2021

Dear Brian,

Commission to the Migration Advisory Committee

I remain very grateful to you and the other members of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) for the important work you undertake and for the high-quality analysis you produce.

I write to you today to commission the MAC to undertake an independent review of adult social care, and the impact the ending freedom of movement has had on the sector. The review has come about following a Government commitment given in the House of Lords during consideration of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 to look at the impact on:

• the adult social care workforce (such as skills shortages) covering the range of caring roles in adult social care including care workers, registered nurses and managerial roles
• visa options for social care workers
• long term consequences for workforce recruitment, training and employee terms and conditions; and
• any other relevant matters the independent chair deems appropriate which are relevant to the above three objectives

I ask you to consider the above points and provide recommendations on how to address the issues which the sector is experiencing with the immigration system and to highlight, where they arise within the scope of the review, wider issues for the Government’s consideration, such as employee terms and conditions.

The Government will consider the recommendations and determine the appropriate course of action to take where it relates to reserved matters. Where any recommendations relate to matters which are devolved, it will be the responsibility of the Scottish Government, Welsh Government or Northern Ireland Executive to determine how these should be taken forward.

The MAC should feel free to consult with the devolved administrations, government departments, local authorities and other stakeholders as they deem necessary. This could include (but is not limited to) a public call for evidence to the sector and other stakeholders.

I must also take the opportunity to emphasise the MAC should engage with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and other appropriate parties such as Skills for Care (and their equivalents in the devolved nations) covering not only the above points, but also to ensure the work complements the wider reform work being undertaken by DHSC. DHSC will share information on wider policy development in relation to Adult Social Care. However, some information may still be under development or awaiting formal agreement and will need to be shared on a confidential basis.

Unlike the usual commissioning process set out in the MAC framework document, because the commitment to this report was made by Government to Parliament, I believe there is a need on this occasion to amend the approach slightly.

To account for the Parliamentary process, which requires the report to be laid in Parliament before it is made public and given its cross-cutting nature, I am requesting copies be made available to relevant individuals in No.10, DHSC and the Home Office 48 hours ahead of it being laid before Parliament. I would like to assure you the report will be embargoed and no details relating to the report will be made available before it is laid in Parliament.

This approach will not alter, or influence, the contents of the report, but rather, ensure a coordinated Government response ahead of it being laid before Parliament. In addition, this will also enable the necessary preparatory administrative action to be undertaken before it is laid. My officials will work with you to determine the best way to share the report when it is ready. Once the Parliamentary process has been completed, the MAC will be free to publish as would be the case for any other report.

This is an exceptional report and it will not change the approach to any future MAC reports which is contained in the framework document. Future reviews will continue to be commissioned and published in accordance with the framework which has been agreed between the Home Office and the MAC.

I should be grateful if the MAC could report by the end of April 2022.

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Foster MP
Minister for Future Borders and Immigration