To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether those who applied to the highly skilled migrant programme prior to September 2006 were warned of the potential for retrospectively-applied changes to the scheme. (112626)

The recent changes to the highly skilled migrant programme have no effect on existing grants of leave. We are therefore not applying them retrospectively. A grant of leave in a category of the immigration rules does not create the expectation of a further grant of leave in that category.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government have made of the effect of changes to the highly skilled migrant programme on previously successful applicants. (112627)

All persons who were granted leave under the highly skilled migrant programme (HSMP) before the changes were implemented will be able to complete that period of leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of age discrimination legislation on the use of an age-related points system in the highly skilled migrant programme. (117782)

Age discrimination legislation is aimed at preventing employers from carrying out practices which discriminate on the basis of age. The immigration rules do not therefore fall directly within its scope as they govern the entry into and stay of people in the UK who are subject to immigration control. The points for age were introduced to avoid disadvantaging younger people, who may have had less time to build up their earnings, from being able to enter under the scheme.