The independent Migration Advisory Committee recommended retaining the existing £30,000 salary threshold for skilled workers.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government agrees with the Migration Advisory Committee\u2019s view that the salary thresholds should ensure that migrants are raising the level of productivity in the UK, making a positive contribution to public finances and are not putting downward pressure on earnings. This salary threshold is an important control to ensure migration is managed at sustainable levels. However, before confirming the level of a future salary threshold the Government will engage extensively with businesses and employers, consider wider evidence of the impact on the economy, and take into account current pay levels in the UK economy.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government currently maintains a Shortage Occupation List which is used to give priority to individuals within the highly-skilled route cap, and to exempt migrants from minimum salary thresholds required for settlement if they are in a shortage occupation. The Home Secretary has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review the current Shortage Occupation List.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Migration Advisory Committee will be commissioned to provide an annual report on key aspects of the UK\u2019s immigration system, including to advise on whether detailed arrangements such as the levels of salary thresholds, and the Shortage Occupation List, need to be revised in light of economic and social circumstances, and any emerging or longer-term trends that may impact the labour market. The Government will also invite the Migration Advisory Committee to examine the case for a Wales specific Shortage Occupation List.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4086", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alun Cairns"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Vale of Glamorgan"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alun Cairns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-07T17:46:42.437Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "28"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Migrant Workers: Wales"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the White Paper, The UK\u2019s future skills-based immigration system, published on 19 December 2018, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Secretary on the effect of the proposed minimum salary requirement of £30,000 for skilled migrants on the Welsh economy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "203921"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028616", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Wales Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028616/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Work to prepare for a successful EU exit is a key priority for the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. The work is funded from the Office\u2019s £4.6 million budget for 2018-19. In addition, the Office was allocated £0.3 million in EU exit funding for this financial year.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4057", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nigel Adams"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Selby and Ainsty"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nigel Adams"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-07T12:51:50.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "28"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Wales Office: Brexit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of funding it requires to plan for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if he will place any documentation on such estimates in the Library.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "203922"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028617", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028617/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is making additional funding available so that departments and the devolved administrations can prepare effectively for EU Exit. More than £4.2 billion has been provided since 2016, including over £2 billion for core Brexit activity in 2019-20 for deal and no deal scenarios.<\/p>
The 2019-20 allocations were announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 18 December 2018. The devolved administrations received their full share of additional funding in devolved areas through the Barnett Formula, with the Scottish Government allocated £54.7m, the Welsh Government allocated £31.1m, and the Northern Ireland administration allocated £20.4m. The Police Service Northern Ireland has received a further £16.5m to reflect the specific and unique circumstances in Northern Ireland.<\/p>
This follows 2018-19 Barnett-based allocations from a £1.5 billion fund, which provided the Scottish Government with £37.3m, the Welsh Government with £21.4m, and the Northern Ireland administration with £15.2m.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-07T14:26:21.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been allocated to the devolved administrations to help them prepare for the possibility that the UK does not agree a Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "203923"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028618", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028618/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Responsibility for the plans to facilitate traffic flows around ports in Wales rests with the Welsh Assembly. The Government has been working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government to support their planning.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1413", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Grayling"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Epsom and Ewell"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Grayling"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-07T13:19:16.233Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ports: Wales"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library the Government's full plans to facilitate traffic flows (a) into, (b) through and (c) around Welsh ports after 29 March 2019 in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "203924"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023926", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023926/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1609", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chloe Smith"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Norwich North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chloe Smith"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023926/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "PQ201699 holding (1).pdf"} , "title" : "UKSA Response"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-18T09:17:23.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Emigration: EEA Nationals and EU Nationals"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of non-UK (a) EU and (b) EEA citizens leaving the UK in each of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "201699"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024703", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024703/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Border Force Transparency Data figures (2015-2017) shows that the number of seizures made have stayed relatively stable since 2015.<\/p>
Border Force continues to work closely and dynamically with the police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit to control illegal imports and exports of ivory and respond to emerging threats. It is also working innovatively with the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) to facilitate the surrender of ivory to Border Force for destruction where its provenance cannot be established<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-18T14:25:12.687Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ivory: Seized Articles"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the seizure of illegal ivory by the UK Border Force since 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "202093"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024704", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024704/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK is investing £36 million between 2014 and 2021 to counter the illegal wildlife trade, including work to reduce demand, strengthen enforcement and ensure effective legal frameworks and develop sustainable livelihoods.<\/p>
The UK has funded work to help CITES review implementation of its Resolution on the conservation of and trade in tigers and other Appendix-I Asian big cats. The UK\u2019s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund is supporting several projects featuring tigers, including work in Sumatra tackling illegal wildlife trade across two globally important tiger landscapes and in South East Asia strengthening enforcement.<\/p>
Institutions such as the Natural History Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens Research Councils and many British universities are actively engaged in promoting UK conservation expertise globally. This is supported by UK government programmes promoting protection of biodiversity, including the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and Darwin Initiative.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4098", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Suffolk Coastal"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Thérèse Coffey"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-18T17:29:13.36Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tigers: Conservation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect tigers by (a) helping to curtail the illegal international trade in tiger body parts and (b) promoting UK conservation expertise to countries with remaining tiger populations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "202094"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024705", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024705/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK has stricter measures in place for tigers than those required by the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations and by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Applications for import or export of live captive bred tigers are considered on a case by case basis and need to include full details of the destination and intended use of the animal. The sale of live captive bred tigers in the UK is only permitted where the specimens are to be used for conservation purposes.<\/p>
These strict measures will continue when the UK leaves the EU.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4098", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Suffolk Coastal"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Thérèse Coffey"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-18T17:22:34.373Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tigers: Conservation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the commercial (a) internal trade and (b) import and export of tigers that have been bred in captivity after the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4425", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Stevens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jo Stevens"} ], "uin" : "202095"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024706", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1024706/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government reports on the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, including the conservation status of a number of key habitats and European Protected Species, of which natterjack toad is one. The latest report was published in 2013 and assessed a number of important factors including range, population trends, habitat and pressures on the species.<\/p>
<\/p>
In summary, this highlighted that natterjack toad distribution in England is well understood and that long term trends show that sites where they can be found, in England, have improved in habitat quantity and quality due to conservation interventions, particularly management funded by Wildlife Enhancement Schemes and Stewardship Schemes.<\/p>
<\/p>
The full report can be found at the following link:<\/p>
<\/p>