Thursday 3 December 2020

PQ: 3rd December 2020

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-11-19.HL10503.h

Migrant Workers: Interpreters and Teachers

Home Office written question – answered on 3rd December 2020.

Baroness Coussins Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter from the Home Secretary to the Migration Advisory Committee, published on 23 October, on what evidence they based their decision "not to immediately accept the recommendations" contained in the report by the Migration Advisory Committee Review of the Shortage Occupation List: 2020, published on 29 September, that teachers of modern foreign languages and interpreters be included on the Shortage Occupations List.

Baroness Williams of Trafford The Minister of State, Home Department

The recent review of the Shortage Occupation Lists (SOL) was commissioned at a time when the main variable under consideration was the broadening of the skills requirement to include RQF level 3-5 occupations.

The UK labour market has changed dramatically due to the economic impacts of the measures necessary to tackle Covid-19. Many UK based workers now face an uncertain future and need to find new employment opportunities. The Government is clear our migration policies need to be considered alongside our strategies for the UK labour market.

Whilst we have considered carefully the possible impacts of the new immigration system, additional variables such as Covid-19 require closer examination. To avoid taking a piecemeal approach to implementing the MAC’s advice, we need time to monitor the various influences on migration flows and the labour market, including introduction of a new immigration system, and whether this is in line with our anticipated outcomes, before considering which changes are required.

Tuesday 1 December 2020

PQ: 1st December 2020

 https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-11-19.HL10504.h

General Practitioners: Interpreters

Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 1st December 2020.

Baroness Coussins Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have provided guidanceto GP practices about the responsibility to provide personal protect equipment to public service interpreters who are needed for face-to-face patient appointments; and if not, what plans they have to provide such guidance immediately.

Lord Bethell The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care

We expect personal protective equipment (PPE) to be made available for interpreters working across any healthcare setting, including in general practice, when delivering face to face services. Public Health England publish extensive guidance on infection prevention and control which sets out the PPE that should be used when providing clinical/personal care. The standard operating procedures issued to general practice reference this guidance and also sets out additional guidance on the provision of services to people requiring interpreters and/or translation provision.