Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and her distinction between illegal migrants and those who came legally to work and contribute. We must confront the mess left by the Conservatives, whose failure to manage our immigration system is nothing short of a national scandal. Settlement should be earned through contribution, and in Portsmouth, I have seen that at first hand from our care workers, who look after our most vulnerable. Will the Home Secretary reassure those who have already contributed so much that their contributions will be recognised, and that those who have not contributed and have tried to play the system will need to contribute to remain?
Answer
Let me reiterate to my hon. Friend that the transitional arrangement agreed for care workers reflects the unique circumstances of that cohort. Those who have met the terms of their visa will be able to settle at five years, and those who have not will get a second chance to make the contribution that they originally came to make.33% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (70/100)
The reply directly addresses both parts of the question. It names a transitional arrangement for care workers who came legally and says those who met their visa terms can reach settlement after five years. On whether those who did not meet their terms must contribute in order to remain, it says they must make the contribution they originally came to make, but this is loosely phrased and does not specify what that requirement or process will involve, so the asker may need to seek more detail.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Government recognise the contributions already made by those who came legally to work and contribute, such as care workers, in its approach to settlement? | Addressed | Direct | The reply explicitly names the transitional arrangement agreed for care workers and says it reflects their unique circumstances, which is a concrete form of recognition for those who came legally to work in care. The five-year settlement route for those who met their visa terms reinforces that legally contributing workers are recognised in the settlement approach. |
| Will those who have not contributed and have tried to play the system be required to contribute in order to remain in the UK? | Addressed | Direct | The reply distinguishes those who met their visa terms (settlement at five years) from those who have not, who must make the contribution they originally came to make in a second chance, which directly answers whether non-contributors will be required to contribute to remain. Statement 3's loose, rhetorical phrasing makes the requirement somewhat less precise than it could be, so confidence is moderate. |