To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 29 June (WA 265), why it is not possible to distinguish between the numbers of visas issued to those coming to undertake shortage occupations and to those coming to fill other jobs.

Management information captured by our entry clearance IT system does not distinguish between the numbers of visas issued to those coming to undertake shortage occupations from those issued to fill other jobs within the tier two category of the points-based system.

This information is recorded on the certificate of sponsorship issued by the sponsor, but is not carried through to the caseworking system.

Our previous response to PQ HR 119, to Lord Laird of Artigarvan confirmed the number of certificates of sponsorship issued to migrants for jobs on the shortage occupations list between June 2009 and May 2010.