To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2018 to Question 141827, what methodology and criteria he is using to monitor the effect of the operation of the immigration cap on potential NHS doctors; if he will make it his policy to remove those restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered on
4 June 2018
The Government recognises fully the contribution that doctors working in the NHS – and other professionals – make to the UK. But it is also important to ensure that our immigration routes work in the national interest and protects the resident labour market.
Where the number of applications by UK based employers exceeds the monthly allocation of available Tier 2 (General) places, first priority is given to applications filling a shortage occupation, followed by PhD-level occupations, graduate occupations and lastly on salary, from highest to lowest.
A number of medical professionals, including consultants working in the specialisms of emergency medicine, clinical radiology and old age psychiatry are already recognised to be in national shortage, as determined by the Migration Advisory Committee, and receive priority within the allocation of Tier 2 places. We estimate that around 40% of all Tier 2 places go to the NHS.
No application seeking to undertake a job in national shortage has ever been refused a place because of the visa cap.