The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has responded positively to the Home Office’s proposals for a new Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to help inform UK immigration policy.

Commenting on the proposals, REC director of external relations Tom Hadley says: “There is a definite need for rational debate based on the real needs of the UK labour market and ways of addressing related issues such as effective enforcement of illegal working legislation. The Migration Advisory Committee can play a useful role by collating regular labour market data as well as feedback from organisations in the front line of the UK labour market”.

The REC has argued that the new Committee should also focus on shortages of lower-skilled workers. “Managed migration is only one part of the solution for addressing the UK’s labour market needs. The proposed Migration Advisory Committee can make a positive contribution to this debate as long as the composition and remit of the new body means that it is able to provide regular and practical updates from the sharp end of the UK labour market,” adds Hadley.

The official consultation on the proposals closes this week.