The Migration Advisory Committee and the Home Office have published a jointly approved framework document, signed on 16 December 2025 and updated on GOV.UK on 13 January 2026, setting out how the two organisations work together.
The Framework document between Migration Advisory Committee and the Home Office describes the broad framework within which the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) operates. It was signed on 16 December 2025 by Antonia Romeo, Home Office Permanent Secretary, and Professor Brian Bell, Chair of the MAC. Paragraph 1.1 says it has been approved by HM Treasury.
The MAC is classified by the Cabinet Office as an independent, non-statutory, non-time limited, non-departmental public body (paragraph 3.1). The document does not convey any legal powers or responsibilities, but both parties agree to operate within its terms (paragraph 1.3). Its stated function is to provide independent, evidence-based advice to the Government on migration (paragraph 2.1). The MAC's role is advisory, and decisions on UK immigration policy remain a matter for UK Government Ministers (paragraph 5.2).
Among the MAC's strategic aims (paragraph 5.1) are:
- responding to commissions from the Government;
- engaging in work of its own choosing;
- playing an active role in the Labour Market Evidence Group with Skills England, the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council and the Department for Work and Pensions;
- engaging with the Devolved Governments;
- producing an annual report for Parliament and the public.
On governance, the Home Secretary appoints the Chair and other members under the Governance Code on Public Appointments (paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3). No appointment period for the Chair, Deputy Chair or members may exceed three years (paragraphs 15.1, 16.1 and 17.1). Members are expected to attend at least 80% of full meetings each year (paragraph 17.3). A meeting needs at least three members, including the Chair or Deputy Chair, to be quorate (paragraph 18.3).
The Home Office Permanent Secretary is the MAC's Accounting Officer and accounts to Parliament for its funding (paragraphs 8.1 and 8.3). The Points Based System and Economic Migration team is the MAC's primary Home Office contact (paragraph 9.1). The MAC must give the sponsor a quarterly update on active or anticipated litigation (paragraph 12.1).
Paragraph 1.5 says the document should be reviewed and updated at least every three years, unless there are exceptional reasons, agreed with HM Treasury and the Principal Accounting Officer of the sponsor department, that make this inappropriate. The latest date for review and updating is 16 December 2028. The document's opening page says it must be reviewed and agreed no later than three years after the date it was signed.
An earlier review should take place within two months of a new Chair appointment, a change in the relevant Home Office personnel, a significant change in Government policy relating to the business of the MAC, or an agreement between the Senior Sponsor and the Chair of the MAC that a review is required (paragraph 1.6).
Sources
- Framework document between Migration Advisory Committee and the Home Office, GOV.UK, updated 13 January 2026