Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 149
149
Professor Katherine Smith, University of Strathclyde, told us that—despite the fact that most EU nationals...
Conclusion
Professor Katherine Smith, University of Strathclyde, told us that—despite the fact that most EU nationals are allowed to continue working in the UK—she was “really clear from conversations with colleagues working in Scotland, who were born in other European countries, that they are concerned and are feeling less welcome” following Brexit and that “almost all of them have started to explore whether they could move elsewhere in Europe”.348 We heard a similar picture from Professor Rebecca Lunn, who informed us that “a number of eastern European academics, who are very talented, have decided to go back, and a number of people have pulled out of interviews”.349 Karen Watt, Scottish Funding Council, welcomed the UK’s post-study work visa—and thought it would be an important part of the UK’s package that EU nationals will access post-Brexit—but also commented that the general environment and welcome that EU nationals receive post- Brexit matters.350
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
11. The UK Government must promote a positive narrative—including by using its significant diplomatic reach—that, whilst we have left the EU, the UK and Scotland remain an attractive place to work for EU nationals and the brightest and best the EU has to offer are not just ‘allowed’ to work here, but are actively welcomed. (Paragraph 151) We have now launched our new global, points-based immigration system, including most recently, the Graduate route, and have extensively promoted these new immigration routes throughout the EU and the rest of the world—sending out a clear message the UK welcomes the brightest and the best, whether they be at the start of their career as a young graduate, or a respected and experience member of their profession. We continue to welcome international students, placing no limit on their numbers, and we remain committed to increasing the number of international Higher Education students in the UK to 600,000 by 2030, as set out in the Government’s International Education Strategy. As part of the new Graduate route, international students who complete a PhD from Summer 2021 can stay in the UK for 3 years after study to live and work; students who have successfully completed undergraduates and master’s degrees to stay 2 years after study. The points-based immigration system’s new Student route includes several improvements to further streamline the immigration process, including extending the window in which prospective students can make visa applications, removing study time limits at postgraduate level and allowing all students to switch to another type of visa from within the UK. The new points-based immigration system treats EU and non-EU citizens equally and provides simple, effective, and flexible arrangements for skilled workers from around the world to come to the UK. The Government is working to radically improve our approach to attracting global talent to the UK and has set up the Office for Talent (OfT). The OfT will drive forward further visa reform and review the talent offer across all career stages to make sure that the coverage and attractiveness of programmes is among the best in the world. The OfT is working with delivery teams across government departments, ensuring the UK’s talent offer is stronger than ever for students, those building their careers, and those who are already world leaders in their fields, and will make it easier for those with the most talent,