Response to latest committee report on policy options for post-Brexit migration

In response to the government’s Home Affairs Committee’s report on policy options for the future migration from the European Economic Area (EEA), Dr Sarah Main, executive director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) gives us her thoughts…

“I welcome the Committee's prompting of a constructive debate on options for a post-Brexit migration system,” she said. “The ability to attract talented people remains a number one priority for science and engineering organisations post-Brexit and we need to see some ideas on how that will happen.”

The policy, which is an interim report intended to inform parliament and the public about the government statements so far on migration after Brexit, sets out the current status of the negotiations and whether there is consensus on a future EEA migration policy. Additionally, it specifies some of the existing controls that may be applicable in the immediate term and goes into more detail about some of the other potential frameworks for free movement and access to the single market.

Concluding the report, the committee state that although it is not specifically putting forward a preferred option it has highlighted a broad range of options for the future of immigration of the UK and is calling on the government to take note of the high level of dissatisfaction with existing arrangements. ‘Extending the non-EEA structure to include EEA citizens is simply untenable and unworkable,’ the committee wrote.

“There is widespread agreement in the sector that extending the non-EEA system would increase burden and bureaucracy and is not a desirable solution,” continued Main. “Instead, a streamlined system should support frictionless movement of scientists and engineers in and out of the UK.

“Substantial work is being done to create smart technological solutions for providing settled status for EU nationals currently residing in the UK. Applying some of that know-how and positive approach to creating an EEA migration system will surely pay dividends.”