Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:58 pm on 20 May 2020.
First Minister, Boris Johnson, in Prime Minister's questions today, says that he believes it is right to charge low-paid, front-line healthcare workers, coming from abroad to work in the NHS, the immigration health surcharge, amounting to hundreds of pounds or more a year. Now, Keir Starmer, the Labour leader and the leader of the opposition in Parliament, quoted a letter from doctors and medical organisations, which said:
'At a time when we are mourning colleagues your steadfast refusal to reconsider the deeply unfair immigration health surcharge is a gross insult to all...this country at its time of greatest need.'
Now, he indicated that there will be a proposed amendment from the opposition to abolish that. I wonder if you agree, First Minister, that this surcharge is an insult to many front-line healthcare workers.