Home Secretary welcomes interim chair of the MAC

18 Mar 2020 10:57 AM

Home Secretary welcomes interim chair of the MAC and commissions review of shortage occupation lists.

Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday welcomed the appointment of Professor Brian Bell as the interim chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

The MAC is an independent non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office that advises the government on migration issues.

Professor Brian Bell has been a member of the MAC since 6 February 2018 and is a Professor of Economics at King’s Business School within King’s College London. He has previously worked at both the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England.

Interim Chair of the MAC Professor Brian Bell yesterday said:

I’m delighted and honoured to have been appointed as interim chair of the Migration Advisory Committee.

Professor Brian Bell’s appointment follows the expiry of Professor Manning’s three year tenure as chair of the MAC.

The recruitment process to find Professor Manning’s permanent replacement has already begun and will be conducted in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

As previously announced, the Home Secretary has commissioned the MAC to advise on what occupations at RQ3-5 (and equivalent) should be included on the Shortage Occupation Lists (SOLs).

This follows the release of the policy statement on the future immigration system, under which migrants will be able to score tradeable points if an occupation is in shortage.

The MAC will also be asked how the SOLs can be kept under regular review to reflect the changing needs of the UK labour market.

The MAC have been requested to deliver their advice by the end of September 2020.