CaSE submission to Commons S&T Committee – An immigration system that works for science and innovation

CaSE’s response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry into an immigration system that works for science and innovation.

Our two headline recommendations for Government on immigration are:

1.  Rebuild confidence in the short term

The Government should unilaterally and urgently amend visa rules and improve immigration messaging. This is an essential first step if Government is to demonstrate it is serious about ambitions for Global Britain and being one of the best places in the world for science and innovation. Current policy is a bellwether for future action during the Brexit transition, and the science community at home and abroad are watching carefully. 

2. Create a streamlined system in the long term

Thinking specifically about any future immigration system, to support research and innovation it must facilitate frictionless movement, have proportionate system rules, be founded on robust evidence and fit for the future.

Further evidence to support these recommendations are contained in previous submissions to the committee and our immigration policy review.