Question
In August last year the Government admitted that they had no idea how many people who came in on care worker visas were still working in the care sector. How can the Home Secretary make an informed decision on their earned settlement when she has no idea whether they are still here doing the jobs they came in to do?
Answer
When applying for settlement, people will need to provide evidence that they have been working and earning within the care sector. Based on analysis of HM Revenue and Customs data, we expect that three quarters of care workers will meet the test and conditions of their visa and will be able to settle at five years.
Verdict: AMBER (48/100)
The reply partly answers the question. It names HMRC data analysis as the basis for its expectation that care workers will meet their visa conditions, which gives a concrete evidence source. It does not say whether data on current care-sector employment of care worker visa entrants is held or will be collected. Instead it offers a projected share of around three quarters, so the person asking would probably need to follow up for the specific data position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What evidence the Home Secretary will use to make an informed decision on earned settlement for care worker visa holders. | Addressed | Direct | The question asks what evidence the Home Secretary will use, and the reply names HMRC data analysis as the basis for its expectation about care workers meeting visa conditions, which is a concrete evidence source. Statement 1 mainly describes the evidence applicants must supply, so it is only a partial fit, but read together the two statements describe the evidence base. |
| Whether the department holds, or plans to collect, data on how many people who entered on care worker visas are still working in the care sector. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The question asks whether data on current care-sector employment of care worker visa entrants is held or will be collected, but the reply gives only a projected share (three quarters) expected to meet visa conditions and settle, without stating whether current employment data is held or planned. The projection is related evidence but not a direct answer to the holding or collection question. |