December 2025 Migration Advisory Committee meeting minutes
Updated 12 May 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migration-advisory-committee-meeting-minutes-2025/december-2025-migration-advisory-committee-meeting-minutes
Migration Advisory Committee
2nd Floor, Peel Building NE
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
194th meeting of Migration Advisory Committee: minutes
Friday 20th December, 10:00- 12:30
In-person conference
Attending
Professor Brian Bell
Professor Dina Kiwan
Professor Sergi Pardos-Prado
Dr Madeleine Sumption
Professor Jo Swaffield
Holly White
MAC Secretariat
Agenda Item 1 – Welcome and introductions
Brian Bell opened the meeting and welcomed the attendees.
Agenda Item 2 – Lessons Learnt
The Committee discussed their reflections and lessons learned from the two recent MAC publications. This will be used to inform future work.
Agenda Item 3 – Skills England overview
Brian welcomed Phil Smith, Tessa Griffiths and a colleague from Skills England to present on their vision, mission and priorities. They summarised what they have delivered in 2025 and what is upcoming in 2026. They answered questions from the Committee about how to address skills gaps, jobs plans. Brian thanked them for their presentation and for addressing questions.
Agenda Item 4 – Home Office, MAC Secretariat and MAC updates
Claire Smith sent her apology for not being able to join the meeting. Holly gave the Home Office update for work, a potential new commission in the new year, the consultation on settlement, and on Philippa Rouse’s departure to Cabinet Office.
Holly gave the MAC Secretariat update on the annual report and salaries report being published, processes for publication, working on a better way to send out committee papers, and on the risk register. She added that a meeting with the Labour Market Evidence Group (LMEG) would occur in the new year.
She updated that Madeleine’s role has been extended as Deputy Chair, and the Chair role will be advertised in the new year.
Brian updated that he will be chairing an advisory board in the new year related to the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Agenda Item 5 – TSL: How to assess shortage and job plans
A member of the Secretariat gave an overview of the status of work on the TSL so far and took questions from the Committee and Secretariat. Holly asked about planning committee members’ time on stage 2 of TSL.
Agenda Item 6 – Projects for 2026
Holly mentioned the Stage 2 TSL, as well as a list of potential projects in the new year such as Global Talent, and asked for committee views.
Agenda Item 7 – AOB
Brian thanked the secretariat for its achievements and publications this year.
No other business was raised.