UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced in the Financial Times that she will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to carry out an assessment of migration from the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) in relation to the UK economy as a whole.

The committee will be asked to examine the UK’s labour market and look at the role EU national’s play in the economy. The aim of the report is to identify how the UK’s immigration system aligns itself with “modern industrial strategy” to ensure that UK industry can remain resilient. Ms Rudd said that she wanted to reassure businesses and EU nationals that the UK “will ensure there is no ‘cliff edge’” once we leave the block”.

It’s understood that work will begin on the report shortly. The findings of the study are unlikely to be available for a number of months and despite promises that there will not be a cliff edge, the fears of EU nationals or businesses that are dependent on labour from abroad are unlikely to be quelled.