Cabinet today received a presentation from Migration Advisory
Committee chairman Professor Alan Manning on its report into the
current and likely future patterns of EEA (European Economic
Area) migration and the impacts of that migration.
Cabinet was told by Professor Manning that the MAC was
recommending that, in the post-Brexit immigration system, EEA and
non-EEA nationals should be part of one universal system.
A key conclusion was that high skilled migration is of greater
economic benefit than lower skilled migration, and as such the
MAC recommended that the new system should make it easier for
higher skilled than lower skilled workers to come to the UK.
The Cabinet agreed that, once free movement is brought to an end,
the Government will be able to introduce a new system which works
in the best interests of the United Kingdom – including by
helping to boost productivity.
Cabinet also received an update from , the Transport Secretary, on
the review launched last week to transform Britain’s railways.
The review — led by independent chair Keith Williams, the former
British Airways chief executive and deputy chairman of John Lewis
Partnership - is the most significant since privatisation. It
will consider ambitious recommendations for reform to ensure our
rail system continues to benefit passengers and support a
stronger, fairer economy.
The Prime Minister gave an update on the informal meeting of the
European Council in Salzburg. She said it was always clear that
there would come a critical point in these negotiations and now
is the time to hold our nerve.
She said that there is no future relationship that will prevent a
hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, maintain the
constitutional integrity of the UK and respect the referendum
result that does not include frictionless trade. The PM said
that, as it stands, the Government’s White Paper is the only plan
on the table which achieves this and she remains confident of
securing a deal with the EU.
At the same time, the Government will continue to sensibly plan
for no deal. The PM pointed to the announcement on Friday that
the UK will guarantee the rights of the more than three million
EU citizens living in the UK in the event of no deal. She said
the UK will look to the EU to do the same for UK citizens living
in the EU.
