MINISTERS have been urged to reverse a “cruel” ban on overseas care workers bringing dependants to Britain after Home Office data revealed a steep drop in the number of health and care visas being issued.

Visas granted to main applicants in the 12 months to June fell by 26 per cent on the previous year, to 89,095, the figure show.

A sharp drop of 81 per cent for the year-on-year period of April to June alone coincided with the Conservative government’s ban coming into force.