0:00:13 > 0:00:16Mr Speaker, it is a great pleasure to come to the House today to answer
0:00:16 > 0:00:21the question from the right honourable member. In doing so, I
0:00:21 > 0:00:24should point out that Ministers have made great efforts to keep the House
0:00:24 > 0:00:30and formed on the state of play relating to the UK's exit from the
0:00:30 > 0:00:33European Union, bearing in mind that we are in an ongoing negotiation and
0:00:33 > 0:00:40we cannot give a running commentary. Since June 2016, there have been
0:00:40 > 0:00:44numerous ministerial statements. This question however relates
0:00:44 > 0:00:48specifically to immigration so let me remind the House to where we have
0:00:48 > 0:00:52got to. Our first priority in negotiations was to reach a deal on
0:00:52 > 0:00:56citizens rights, a position of the 3 million EU citizens currently in the
0:00:56 > 0:01:01UK and just as importantly, the 1 million UK citizens who reside in
0:01:01 > 0:01:06other EU Member States. An agreement was successfully concluded on that
0:01:06 > 0:01:10last December, meaning all of those people were guaranteed continuing
0:01:10 > 0:01:14rights to live and work as they do now and of course we updated
0:01:14 > 0:01:20Parliament fully at the time. Our next priority is to agree view
0:01:20 > 0:01:23arrangements during the implementation period, the period
0:01:23 > 0:01:27immediately following the UK's exit next March. Negotiations are shortly
0:01:27 > 0:01:30to begin with the EU am I right honourable friend the Prime Minister
0:01:30 > 0:01:36has set out the board objectives in the speech he gave in Florence last
0:01:36 > 0:01:40year. We will publish a white paper in the coming months when the time
0:01:40 > 0:01:46is right. And of course we will consider how we can update the House
0:01:46 > 0:01:50as negotiations progress. As to be longer term, as the House will know,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54the Government has commissioned the independent migration advisory
0:01:54 > 0:02:00committee to advise on the economic aspects of the UK's exit. The map
0:02:00 > 0:02:09was asked for in September 2018, and as to consider interim reports. Let
0:02:09 > 0:02:12me be clear, given we are expected to have an implementation period of
0:02:12 > 0:02:16around two years after we leave, there will be plenty of time to take
0:02:16 > 0:02:21account of the backs recommendations in designing the longer-term
0:02:21 > 0:02:25integration systems for the UK. Mr Speaker, we are clear that the
0:02:25 > 0:02:30Government will make a successive brexit. We will and free movement
0:02:30 > 0:02:34and build an immigration system that works in the national interest. And
0:02:34 > 0:02:39we will, as we have done thus far in sure that Parliament is kept
0:02:39 > 0:02:47informed and to date.My lords I think the noble lady for appeasing
0:02:47 > 0:02:52the answers of the question given in the other plays by the immigration
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Minister. The only problem I really had was the lack of any credibility
0:02:56 > 0:03:00in the Government on this issue. We have Boris Johnson a month ago
0:03:00 > 0:03:03charging around and seeking to undermine the prime Minister and
0:03:03 > 0:03:09more recently joined White Jacob Rees mole and on immigration, making
0:03:09 > 0:03:15us an international laughing stock. Can't be honourable member it
0:03:15 > 0:03:21explained to the House at why a can't the husband, is there even a
0:03:21 > 0:03:25draft in the Department? Is it just sheets of blank white paper sitting
0:03:25 > 0:03:31in the home office? Could she give the House also, that we will not be
0:03:31 > 0:03:37sitting here again with another postponement, and will come back to
0:03:37 > 0:03:40us and we will not be here again in another few months' time with
0:03:40 > 0:03:44another postponement?I would like to think the Noble Lord for his
0:03:44 > 0:03:50questions. On the issue of timing, it is clear that we are considering
0:03:50 > 0:03:55a range of options for the future immigration system. And this is
0:03:55 > 0:03:59incredibly important and we will set out initial plans in the coming
0:03:59 > 0:04:03months. But my lords Kudla what we have to do is make sure that all
0:04:03 > 0:04:09decisions that we make for the future immigration system are based
0:04:09 > 0:04:14on evidence and engagement. -- but my lords, what we have to do. I
0:04:14 > 0:04:17would encourage all Noble Lord than those they talk too to consult with
0:04:17 > 0:04:22the Government in terms of what they would like to see a future system
0:04:22 > 0:04:27looking like. We are already in consultation with a wide range of
0:04:27 > 0:04:30representatives across businesses, universities and various countries
0:04:30 > 0:04:34and when we are satisfied that we have the evidence and we have
0:04:34 > 0:04:40completed a consultation, we'll of course make our decisions.My
0:04:40 > 0:04:47lords... My lords...Prison move lead the Noble Baroness the Minister
0:04:47 > 0:04:51willhave seen the political coverage over the weekend, about the
0:04:51 > 0:04:56damage caused by the uncertainty over brexit, not least the National
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Health Service were EU nationals are leaving because of the
0:04:58 > 0:05:03uncertainties. From the situation where they felt they had some
0:05:03 > 0:05:07certainty, we now learned that there is no certainty during or after the
0:05:07 > 0:05:12implementation period. The Noble Baroness talks about plenty of time
0:05:12 > 0:05:17but the longer the delay, the more people will leave. What further
0:05:17 > 0:05:21damaged his seat Minister believed this debate and the publication this
0:05:21 > 0:05:25white paper will cause to one already understaffed and under
0:05:25 > 0:05:31resource National Health Service?I think the Noble Lord for his
0:05:31 > 0:05:37observations, but I don't feel he is quite correct. Let us be very clear,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41we have already reached a very important milestone. We have reached
0:05:41 > 0:05:48an agreement the citizens rights deal, with the EU. And back covers
0:05:48 > 0:05:51citizens, EU citizens who already live in the UK. If you are a nurse
0:05:51 > 0:05:56and you are living, if you are a nurse from the EU and living in the
0:05:56 > 0:05:59UK, you are covered. You need to register with the home office and
0:05:59 > 0:06:04then you will be able to attain settled status and you will be able
0:06:04 > 0:06:08to remain in the United Kingdom and have the same rights you would a pad
0:06:08 > 0:06:14prior to us leaving the European Union. In terms of what is going to
0:06:14 > 0:06:18happen during the post exit implementation period, that is
0:06:18 > 0:06:21subject to negotiation and would be foolish for us to reveal exactly
0:06:21 > 0:06:25what we want because the quickest way to not get what you want is to
0:06:25 > 0:06:34reveal it.My lords, with the noble lady, the Minister, notice or agree
0:06:34 > 0:06:38that the timing for the white paper that she has given is about as big
0:06:38 > 0:06:42as anything I have heard and I heard Lenny of vague promises from the
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Government about white papers before. Could she say that the white
0:06:45 > 0:06:54paper when it comes, if it comes, when ever it comes, will cover the
0:06:54 > 0:06:58of foreign practise of treating international students as economic
0:06:58 > 0:07:02migrants? And will finally address that issue in terms which stopped
0:07:02 > 0:07:14that practise?Well, I think that I can assure the Noble Lord that if
0:07:14 > 0:07:17required in this question that I am being very clear that it will be
0:07:17 > 0:07:23with us in the coming months and the situation as it progresses, the
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Noble Lord raises the question of the net migration figure and I am
0:07:27 > 0:07:32well aware that it is something he feels very strongly, and I would
0:07:32 > 0:07:38point out that we are not any different, in terms of including
0:07:38 > 0:07:41international students and our net migration calculations. I cannot
0:07:41 > 0:07:49make any promises to him about what will be in Whitehall.My lords, I
0:07:49 > 0:07:52will think the noble lady for repeating this statement. My
0:07:52 > 0:07:59question is, will there be a region that mentioned, for the future
0:07:59 > 0:08:04immigration policy?I would like to think My Noble friend for the
0:08:04 > 0:08:08question, and of course, we have to take into account the labour
0:08:08 > 0:08:11requirements both in regions and also in different sectors of our
0:08:11 > 0:08:15economy. This is why we have commissioned the independent
0:08:15 > 0:08:20vibration advisory committee to advise on the economic and social
0:08:20 > 0:08:24impacts on the exit from the EU but also on how the UK's immigration
0:08:24 > 0:08:29system should be aligned with the Government's modern industrial
0:08:29 > 0:08:32strategy which was published recently. The migration advisement
0:08:32 > 0:08:39committee will be reporting in September 2018, so I believe there
0:08:39 > 0:08:46is sufficient time to do the work that is needed to be done. We are
0:08:46 > 0:08:50considering a range of options for the future immigration system. We
0:08:50 > 0:08:55will not leave anything out at that stage.Willie Noble Baroness the
0:08:55 > 0:09:01Prime Minister please be more open with the House about the governments
0:09:01 > 0:09:09objectives. In the transition or implementation period as the
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Government calls it. Is the objective to reduce numbers coming
0:09:13 > 0:09:22to this country or is it not, and the noble lady talks about policy
0:09:22 > 0:09:27being evidence based, is it absolutely clear that at the moment
0:09:27 > 0:09:37that the NHS scours the rest of the EU to keep our health service going
0:09:37 > 0:09:43on that implementation and transition period would have a
0:09:43 > 0:09:47devastating effect and that the Government should make clear that it
0:09:47 > 0:09:52will not and pose conditions on their rights of residency in the
0:09:52 > 0:10:06United Kingdom was white the Noble Lord will know as I am sureit, that
0:10:06 > 0:10:09the emigration numbers have Artie started to fall and it is our
0:10:09 > 0:10:16ambition that we achieve a sustainable level of migration after
0:10:16 > 0:10:25we exit from the European Union and after the post exit period. I think
0:10:25 > 0:10:34it is very instructive to look forward actually to the period
0:10:34 > 0:10:38beyond the implementation period because that is the period for which
0:10:38 > 0:10:43we were established a stable and robust immigration system which
0:10:43 > 0:10:47works for every region and every sector of the economy. So in terms
0:10:47 > 0:10:52of where we are now and where we will be in say 2021, the
0:10:52 > 0:10:57implementation period and the objective that is as smooth
0:10:57 > 0:11:02transition, to ensure there is no cliff edge and make sure that we are
0:11:02 > 0:11:05able to have the people that we need, the skills we need in our
0:11:05 > 0:11:16country.My warlords it has been well-known for long time that both
0:11:16 > 0:11:22for high skill and low skill work that the statement makes no
0:11:22 > 0:11:26reference to what the Government is thinking and what they will actually
0:11:26 > 0:11:38do.My lords we are well aware that there are shortages in some areas in
0:11:38 > 0:11:47the Government is listening and the best we can do is listen to Art
0:11:47 > 0:11:49universities, businesses and our clique Seat across the European
0:11:49 > 0:11:54Union and the Government has a number of user groups that have been
0:11:54 > 0:11:59set up with representatives from all sorts of different organisations.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05The most important thing we can do is if there are shortages in
0:12:05 > 0:12:08different regions or sectors, then that is what our future immigration
0:12:08 > 0:12:14policy must address.One of the mistakes that I believe the
0:12:14 > 0:12:25Government has made...Order! Order! Order! My lords, order, please. This
0:12:25 > 0:12:44side, order. Order. OK, now please, this side.I believe the Government
0:12:44 > 0:12:52has made a mistake in recent years. In understating the scale of
0:12:52 > 0:12:57forecast immigration for planning, poor health, housing, schools and
0:12:57 > 0:13:06infrastructure. Can I ask ranges if need be beyond the implementation
0:13:06 > 0:13:13period and how they are planning for the consequences in terms of public
0:13:13 > 0:13:16infrastructure. Will this feature in the white paper?I would like to
0:13:16 > 0:13:20think My Noble friend for her question. I am afraid I am not able
0:13:20 > 0:13:25to answer the question she has raised entrance of the number that
0:13:25 > 0:13:31we are looking out for in terms of the public services but we are
0:13:31 > 0:13:35working very hard to approve the quality of the data that we use for
0:13:35 > 0:13:40immigration, or casting. We are working closely with Owen asked and
0:13:40 > 0:13:43other government departments to improve the quality and use of
0:13:43 > 0:13:46administrative data because we do need a better understanding about
0:13:46 > 0:13:52how many migrants are in the UK and how long they stayed for. The LNS
0:13:52 > 0:14:12will be reporting in the year and we look forward to their report.My
0:14:12 > 0:14:18lords. We have had ten minutes, we are now moving onto next question.
0:14:18 > 0:14:33And not Oval order. -- order.Order.