Keith Vaz MP

Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee

Home Affairs Committee

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Date: 15th July 2015

Dear Keith,

I am writing to you to express concerns raised by my constituents regarding the family migration rules that came into effect in 2012. The 9^th July marked the three year anniversary of the new income threshold for family migration. It also marks the end of the third year in which thousands of British citizens have been separated from their partners, as a direct result of the family migration rules.

In its June 2013 report, the APPG on Migration, recommended an independent review of the new rules. I believe that it is more important than ever that the Government looks into the impacts of the family migration rules, particularly as recent evidence has shown that 42% of British workers are too poor to be granted the right to a family life of their choosing, and that the rules are separating children from their parents. For example, it is my understanding that a full-time worker earning the National Minimum Wage, would not be able to sponsor a non-EEA spouse.

I, therefore, urge the Home Affairs Select Committee to conduct an independent review of the current family migration rules, in line with the recommendations made by the APPG on Migration, to ensure that British citizens are not prevented from legitimately living in the UK with their loved ones. I implore you to review the family migration rules with a view to ensuring families are kept together in future, and are not driven apart.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Yours sincerely,