Irene Campbell

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention; much of what he has raised is in my opening speech. Since the petition was launched, and following the general election last summer, the Government announced that the threshold would be held at £29,000 until the Migration Advisory Committee completes a new review, which is expected to be in June 2025. However, when an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures, it gets a Government response, as this one did in January 2024. The then Government outlined their arguments as to why the minimum income requirement should be increased to £38,700, stating that the policy was part of a larger package intended to curb immigration and net migration. They added that the minimum income requirement was set with the intention that family migrants “could be supported at a reasonable level…and to help ensure they can participate sufficiently in everyday life to facilitate their integration into British society.” However, in early 2023, the House of Lords published a report called “All families matter: An inquiry into family migration”. It stated that “applicants and sponsors can feel like second-class citizens and are reluctant or unable to take full part in British society before reaching settlement.” It summarised: “Current migration policies are at odds with the Government’s commitment to family life.” It further stated that the family migration rules are “complex and inconsistent”, they fail “both families and society”, and they “should be simplified”.