Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 146
146
Wellcome go on to say that “for the Global Talent visa to be a globally...
Conclusion
Wellcome go on to say that “for the Global Talent visa to be a globally competitive offer for researchers, and particularly for those early on in their careers, this must be revisited as a priority”.343 They also point out that: UK [visa] charges are more than five times higher than the average for leading science nations. If the Government is serious about attracting research talent to the UK it should substantially reduce these charges so 334 Q210 335 Q178 336 Q25 337 Q252 338 For example: Q24 & Q25 339 Wellcome, The UK’s role in global research: How the UK can live up to its place in the world (October 2020), p 6 340 Wellcome, Priorities for the 2020 Spending Review (September 2020), p 5 341 Q178 342 Wellcome, The UK’s role in global research: How the UK can live up to its place in the world (October 2020), p 6 343 Wellcome, The UK’s role in global research: How the UK can live up to its place in the world (October 2020), p 6 Universities and Scotland 55 that they are in line with other competitor countries, and account for any effective cross-subsidy of [the Department of Health and Social Care] to effectively reduce or remove the Immigration Health Surcharge as needed.344
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
10. In order to allow Scotland to remain competitive and attractive to the best international research talent, who can bring so much to our economy and society, the UK Government should reduce the cost of visas for international researchers and their families, to a level competitive with countries such as France. If the UK Government decides not to reduce the cost of the Global Talent visa (and associated costs for the families of ‘lead’ applicants), the UK Government should seek to justify the reasons for these high fees in comparison to other countries. The UK Government should also take a pragmatic approach to researcher visa extensions, especially in light of covid-19, which has caused unavoidable delays to some research projects. (Paragraph 147) UK visa fees are broadly in line with our competitors across a range of visa types. Visa products are, however, difficult to compare because visa offers including benefits and entitlements gained and duration of stay, vary significantly between countries. As a matter of course, we continue to keep visa fees under review. Income from visa fees helps to fund the migration and borders system and reduces the burden on UK taxpayers. There is little