Member

Migrant fishers are currently included on the UK’s immigration salary list. The Government have said that this list will be phased out in future changes to the Immigration Rules and replaced with a temporary shortage list as the proposals set out in the immigration White Paper are implemented. As the White Paper will lift the threshold for skilled workers to regulated qualifications framework 6—that is equivalent to graduate level or above—and entries on the temporary shortage list are time-limited and conditional, it is unclear how it would be possible for migrant fishers to be employed to fish in UK waters after 2026. There is real concern that these changes could increase the use of the code 7 transit loophole. I hope my noble friend the Minister might be able to offer clarification on this point in his response.