Transparency data

Migration Advisory Committee minutes, 19 August 2022

Updated 6 July 2023

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

Minutes of the 154th meeting of the Migration Advisory Committee

Friday 19 August 2022 10:00am to 12:15pm.

Video / Telephone conference

Attending

• Professor Brian Bell
• Professor Dina Kiwan
• Professor Sergi Pardos-Prado
• Madeleine Sumption
• Professor Jo Swaffield
• Matthew Leng
• Toby Nutley
• MAC Secretariat

Agenda Item 1 – Welcome and introductions

1. Brian Bell opened the meeting and welcomed the attendees.

Agenda Item 2 – Home Office, MAC Secretariat and MAC updates

2. Matthew Leng updated the committee and secretariat members on Home Office business, including the commission of the SOL review, preparation for a potential cabinet reshuffle, and discussions to increase the number of care workers through migration.

3. Toby Nutley updated the committee on staffing changes within the secretariat, wishing those who were leaving well, and discussed the process of recruiting a 6th committee member. Toby also updated on a largely successful data audit, and a meeting with James Davies MP providing insight into our previous recommendations on social care.

4. Brian Bell and Toby Nutley gave an update on progress with the recruitment of the 6th MAC member and numbers of applications.

5. Sergi Pardos-Prado updated on a conversation with Scottish Government about increasing migration towards rural areas.

Agenda item 3 – SOL: ONS data issues and commission update

6. The secretariat presented an outline of the data issues with some ONS datasets and presented several options for moving forwards. The committee proposed presenting the government with a range of options based on those suggested by the secretariat. They also agreed within those options to set out a clear preference that if the ONS provides assurance of the data following revisions that we would continue as previously planned.

Agenda item 4 – Annual Report: labour market and immigration chapter

7. The secretariat presented a first draft of the labour market and immigration section of the Annual Report and asked for opinions regarding presenting information on inactivity and government labour market strategy. The committee agreed on including both discussions in the chapter, with the latter remaining fairly high-level. They also proposed additional topics to include in the chapter.

Agenda item 5 – Annual Report: qualitative research topic guides

8. The secretariat presented the qualitative research topic guides created by Revealing Reality and asked for opinions on moving forwards. The committee were broadly positive and gave some specific feedback on key areas of interest, as well as how the qualitative research could be undertaken. The method and purpose of interviewing employees was also discussed and some changes to focus suggested.

Agenda item 6 – Annual Report: exploitation definitions

9. The secretariat presented on the scope of the exploitation chapter and asked for feedback. The committee were broadly positive about the scope suggested and suggested some additional areas to further explore at a relatively higher level.

Agenda item 7 – Gantt chart and risk register

10. The secretariat shared the Gantt chart and risk register to highlight various uncertainties. The committee did not raise any further risks.

Agenda item 8 – Indeed paper

11. The secretariat shared additional information regarding Indeed data analysis and the scope of the paper. The committee were broadly happy with the content and gave feedback on the sections they would want to be explored more.

Agenda item 9 – AOB

12. Brian thanked members of the secretariat who were leaving and wished them luck.