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Written question asked by Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 October 2025. It was answered by Mike Tapp (Labour) on Friday, 17 October 2025 on behalf of the Home Office.

Labour Market Evidence Group: Northern Ireland

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Labour Market Evidence Group plans to visit Northern Ireland to consult local businesses.

Answer

The Labour Market Evidence Group (LMEG) is supporting the UK Government’s aim to rebalance UK labour market away from an over-reliance on international recruitment and towards domestic workers and ensuring that growth-driving sectors have access to the skilled workers they need now and into the future. LMEG has been established and is meeting regularly at working level with the first formal meeting of LMEG taking place on 29th July 2025. That meeting contained representatives from:

  • the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council
  • the Department for Work and Pensions
  • Skills England and equivalent organisations in the Devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • the Migration Advisory Committee

At the first meeting LMEG members agreed a workplan in collaboration with Devolved Governments including Northern Ireland Executive. This workplan will support LMEG’s ambition, as set out in the Immigration White Paper, of working together to gather and share evidence about the state of the workforce, training levels and participation in the domestic labour market, including at Devolved Government and regional levels.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
77655
Session
2024-26
Related items
Restoring Control over the Immigration System
Monday, 12 May 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Northern Ireland Small businesses Labour Market Evidence Group
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk