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The UK is committing an “act of national self-harm” because high visa fees and an inflexible immigration system deter science students and early career researchers, the House of Lords science and technology committee has warned.
The approach makes the country less attractive to talented people in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) that are central to the government’s push for economic growth, according to a letter from the committee to ministers published on Tuesday.
Scientific bodies and research-dependent companies say Labour risks undermining its core ambitions by refusing to change its Conservative predecessor’s policies on international science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) specialists.
“We have had long-standing concerns about the impact of the UK’s immigration system on its ability to attract STEM talent,” said the letter signed by Baroness Brown, outgoing chair of the Lords committee, on behalf of all its members.
“Indeed, it is the committee’s view that the current policy, which throws up barriers to coming to the UK to work and study for Master’s and PhD students, young researchers, scientists and technology experts early in their careers, is an act of national self-harm.”
The letter to Yvette Cooper, home secretary, Rachel Reeves, chancellor, and Lord Vallance, science minister, claims visa costs have climbed by as much as 58 per cent since 2021. The immigration health surcharge, a fee to access the National Health Service, can push costs into the tens of thousands of pounds, the letter said.
The committee calls for a review of curbs that came into force last year on international students bringing family members with them. Fees from international students are vital to universities’ funding models.
Responding to the letter, Professor Alison Noble, foreign secretary of the Royal Society, said the UK’s upfront visa costs were disproportionate and up to 17 times higher than the average of other leading science nations.
“But, as the Lords Science and Technology Committee recognises, costs are just one aspect of the UK’s talent offer that need to be reviewed,” said Noble, responding to the letter.
Verity Davidge, policy director at Make UK, the manufacturers’ body, said the current system made it harder for advanced technology sectors to compete globally.
“It’s not sustainable to keep putting roadblocks in the way of the very companies that we need to locate in the UK to provide high value, high skill employment,” Davidge said.
“Government must now urgently review the visa system to ensure it’s fit for purpose and ensure companies who need to recruit the best talent from around the world are able to do so.”
The Home Office said that while it was “grateful for the incredible work skilled international professionals do in the UK”, it was clear that the country “must end reliance on overseas labour and boost economic growth”.
A planned white paper would “set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to the broken immigration system” in an effort to “boost the domestic workforce”, it added.
