Recommendation 9

HM Government · verbatim extract Deferred

The Government welcomes the Committee’s recognition of the importance of English language ability in allowing workers to communicate at work, including in relation to health and safety, and to integrate and function in wider society. The importance of English language requirements, including for mitigating the risks of labour exploitation, has also been recognised repeatedly by the MAC. As the Committee notes, the requirement is set at level B1 on the CEFR scale. This is the lowest level at which someone is considered to be an “independent user”. As quoted in the Committee’s report, speakers at B1 level are able to “understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.” and “deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken”. B1 is a basic conversational level and does not represent fluency. It is only once speakers reach B2 level they “can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible”. The Government believes B1 is the most appropriate level for skilled workers entering the UK and we have no plans to lower the requirement. The most recent published immigration statistics show that work visa applications are now back to pre-pandemic levels. Skilled Worker visas in 2021 were up 37,551 or 33% compared with 2019, which points to firms looking to hire overseas workers as being able to meet the various requirements of the Points Based System, including language requirements, in ever increasing numbers. We therefore do not accept this recommendation. We note the comments in the report regarding occupational requirements. It is important to note skilled workers will additionally have to meet any regulatory requirements for the job they will be doing in the UK. For example, a doctor will need to meet the requirements for GMC registration, which includes an English language requirement equivalent to level C1. The B1 visa requirement is the baseline level required of all skilled workers, regardless of occupation. Given the importance in helping individuals to communicate in wider 6 Labour shortages in the food and farming sector: Government response society, as well as protect themselves from exploitation – factors which are important, whichever sector they work in – we do not consider there is a case for sector-based exceptions to the B1 requirement. It is worth recognising that the Skilled Worker route is by no means the sector’s only option for additional recruitment. Beyond the Points Based System there is the UK labour market which includes UK workers and migrants with general work rights. These workers do not have to meet the salary, skill or English language requirements and the pool is widening, with over 6.5 million applications to our hugely successful EU Settlement Scheme and with the Ukrainian visa schemes becoming fully operational.