People who want to come to the UK to work will be subject to a new Australian-style 'points system', under which potential economic migrants would be judged on the skills they could bring to the country, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has announced.

Unveiling the Government's five-year plan for immigration and asylum in the Commons, he said that the current system needed to be built on to ensure a "robust service."

Other key measures include an end to chain migration - meaning there will be no immediate or automatic right for newly-arrived people to bring in more relatives.

Only skilled workers will be allowed to settle long-term in the UK and there will be English language tests for everyone who wants to stay permanently.

Fast-track processing of all 'unfounded' asylum seekers will be introduced, with electronic tagging where necessary.

Fingerprinting of all visa applicants will be established at UK borders, with electronic checks on all those entering and leaving the country.

Mr Clarke said: "This country needs migration - tourists, students and migrant workers make a vital contribution to the UK economy.

"But we need to ensure that we let those with the skills and talents to benefit Britain, while stopping those trying to abuse our hospitality and place a burden on our society.

"We will introduce a simpler, clearer, more effective scheme for those wishing to come and work here, focusing on the highly skilled migrants that can help us build our economy."

The points system to determine what labour skills are needed will consist of four tiers: highly skilled, skilled, low skilled and student/specialist (such as football players). Points will be adjusted to respond to changes in job market giving the system flexibility and control, added Mr Clarke.

The Conservatives quickly accused the government of "panicking". Shadow Home Secretary David Davis questioned why government has "dithered for so long, leaving it far too late to tackle an immigration mess" repeatedly criticised by experts and opposition MPs.

"After eight years in power, and just months before an election, Tony Blair claims he can fix Britain's chaotic asylum and immigration system. It's all talk," Mr Davis said.

Mr Davis said it was only after Michael Howard announced his policy that Labour ministers started to cobble together a policy - only to have Mr Blair ordering them to adopt tougher proposals. He also criticised the government's decision to leave out a quota on asylum seekers, a Conservative policy which would have contravened UK treaty obligations.

He was speaking after the Prime Minister admitted that mounting public concern over asylum and immigration is well justified.

"The fact of the matter is the public are worried about this, they are worried rightly, because there are abuses of the immigration and asylum system," Mr Blair said.

Mark Oaten MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, also criticised the propositions. He said: "While it is good that Labour has rejected the Tory idea of quotas on asylum, the jury is still out on the Home Office's ability to deliver a fair and efficient asylum system.

"For too long it has pandered to the right and not been positive about welcoming genuine refugees, while at the same time its systems have failed to act quickly enough when people try to abuse them."

(GB/SP)