Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
37th Report - Immigration: Skilled worker visas
Public Accounts Committee
HC 819
Published 4 July 2025
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirty-seventh report from Session 2024-26 · published 15 Oct 2025
Recommendations & Conclusions
13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Home Office implements measures to address unintended consequences of Skilled Worker visa route usage.
Conclusion
We asked the Home Office what actions it was taking to address some of the unintended consequences of the higher than expected use of the route, such as an 80% increase in people staying permanently in the United Kingdom in …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the observation and published an evaluation of the Skilled Worker route, noting migrant motivations and potential issues with salaries, but does not detail new specific actions to address increased permanent stays or asylum claims.
HM Treasury
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19
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Liaise with DHSC to assess domestic workforce plans addressing social care skills shortages.
Recommendation
We highlighted that expanding the Skilled Worker visa route had helped the social care sector to reduce vacancy rates to around 131,000. We were concerned that the Home Office had now turned the tap off and asked what analysis it …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's recommendation and commits to writing separately to the Committee regarding the impact of tightened entry requirements. It notes that DHSC already monitors trends in the care workforce and demographics, implicitly addressing the need to understand skills shortages.
HM Treasury
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20
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Government announces closure of care worker visas, ending overseas recruitment for social care.
Conclusion
In the Immigration White Paper, which was published shortly after our evidence session, the government announced that it would end overseas recruitment for social care, closing care worker visas to new applications 40 C&AG’s Report, para 3.19 41 Qq 40, …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion regarding the planned end of overseas recruitment for social care, stating it will write separately on the matter and reiterating that DHSC monitors care workforce trends.
HM Treasury
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