Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill — New Clause — Impact on the Social Care Sector of Repeal of EU Law Relating to Free Movement — 19 Oct 2020 at 21:00

The majority of MPs voted not to require a published independent assessment of the impact on the social care sector of the end of the general right to enter and reside in the UK for nationals of European Union member states, European Economic Area states and Switzerland.

MPs were considering the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill.^[1][2]

The motion supported by a majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 1.

Lords amendment 1^[3] stated:

• After Clause 1
• Insert the following new Clause—
• "Impact of section 1 on the social care sector
• (1) The Secretary of State must commission and publish an independent assessment of the impact of section 1, and Schedule 1, on the social care sector within six months of this Act being passed.
• (2) The Secretary of State must appoint an independent Chair to conduct the assessment.
• (3) The assessment must consider the impact of provisions in section 1, and Schedule 1, on—
• (a) the social care workforce;
• (b) available visa routes for social care workers;
• (c) long-term consequences for workforce recruitment, training and employee terms and conditions; and
• (d) such other relevant matters as the independent Chair deems appropriate.
• (4) A copy of the independent assessment must be laid before both Houses of Parliament within fourteen days of its publishing date."

Clause 1 of the Bill^[4] was titled: Repeal of the main retained EU law relating to free movement etc. and stated:

• Schedule 1 makes provision to—
• (a) end rights to free movement of persons under retained EU law, including by repealing the main provisions of retained EU law relating to free movement, and
• (b) end other EU-derived rights, and repeal other retained EU law, relating to immigration.

Explanatory notes to the Bill^[2] set out its purpose:

"The purpose of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill (the Bill) is to end free movement of persons in UK law and make European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens, and their family members, subject to UK immigration controls."

the notes^[2] also state:

"The Bill protects the status of Irish citizens in the UK when free movement rights end, a status which existed prior to the UK’s membership of the EU."

• [1] Parliament's webpage on the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, Parliament.uk
• [2] Explanatory notes to the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, Overview of the Bill, Parliament.uk
• [3] Lords amendments to the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, 13 October 2020, Parliament.uk
• [4] Clause 1 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill as at the time of the vote, Parliament.uk

Debate in Parliament |