Home Secretary commissions major study on EU workers

The United Kingdom Home Secretary (Interior Minister) commissioned on the 27 July 2017 the Migration Advisory Committee to examine the role EU nationals play in the UK economy and society.

As part of the major study, the government’s independent advisers on migration would also look at how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy.

The Home Office would ask the MAC to focus the study on patterns of EU and EEA (European Economic Area) migration, considering regional distribution; skill levels; industry sectors and the role of the self-employed, part-time, agency, temporary and seasonal workers.

In addition to the MAC commission, there would be an extensive cross-government programme of engagement over the coming months with stakeholders from a number of sectors, including business, industry, trades unions and educational institutions.

Some commentators wondered why it was only in July 2017 - over one year following the EU referendum in the UK - that the government decided to commission a study on such a key topic.

Further information

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent public body that provides transparent, independent and evidence-based advice to the UK government on migration issues.

The UK government set a deadline of September 2018 to report back on the commission. The MAC would consider producing interim responses for the government to ensure the report could support policy development

Soon after the announcement of the commission the MAC said it would produce a call for evidence, which would be available on the MAC website. The MAC would engage with government, business, trade unions and other interested parties to ensure a high quality evidence based response to the commission.

UK: GOV.UK: Migration Advisory Committee: Open Consultation: Call for evidence and briefing note: EEA-workers in the UK labour market, August-October 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-and-briefing-note-eea-workers-in-the-uk-labour-market

UK: GOV.UK: Home Office: Correspondence, 27.07.17: Commissioning letter to the Migration Advisory Committee https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/633321/Commission_to_the_MAC.pdf

UK: GOV.UK: Migration Advisory Committee: Press Release, 27.07.17: Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) commissioned by government https://www.gov.uk/government/news/migration-advisory-committee-mac-commissioned-by-government

ESO: Background information: Brexit and the Labour Market (UK: House of Lords: Select Committee on Economic Affairs, July 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-and-the-labour-market/

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The Guardian, 27.07.17: Amber Rudd asks for analysis of EU migration – a year after referendum https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/27/amber-rudd-asks-for-analysis-of-eu-migration-a-year-after-referendum

EurActiv, 27.07.17: UK-commissioned EU migration impact study promises no Brexit cliff-edge http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/uk-commissioned-eu-migration-impact-study-promises-no-brexit-cliff-edge/

EUObserver, 27.07.17: UK requests EU migration study, 13 months after Brexit vote https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138624

Politico, 27.07.17: May launches post-Brexit immigration study http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-migration-theresa-may-brings-in-expert-advice/

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The Telegraph, 27.07.17: [Editorial]: The immigration debate must not be kicked into the long grass by the Tories http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2017/07/27/immigration-debate-must-not-kicked-long-grass-tories/

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