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01/04/2008
Committee Recommends Immigration Cap
A parliamentary inquiry has concluded that immigration should be capped.
The House of Lords committee denigrated the notion that immigration is of benefit to the economy.
It said that record levels of immigration have "little or no impact" on economic growth and that certain minority groups in Britain may have suffered because of the competition from immigrants.
Ministers oppose an annual cap but Conservatives say that they back a limit.
In response to the report, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said that "immigration is good for the UK", and ruled out the introduction of an annual limit.
Mr Brown told reporters at his monthly news conference: "Most people in the City of London know they have benefited substantially.
"Not just from the inward investment that's coming from international companies, but the number of key workers who are coming to join them and are making a huge contribution to the British economy.
"But we want to get the balance right between that and, of course, being sensible about the pressures in our economy."
In the report, 'The Economic Impact of Immigration', the peers, including two ex-chancellors and other Cabinet members, said that the government should have "and explicit target range" for immigration.
"The available evidence suggests that immigration has had a small negative impact on the lowest-paid workers in the UK and a small positive impact on the earnings of higher-paid workers."
Furthermore, the use of GDP as the measure of immigration's economic contribution was "irrelevant and misleading".
Inquiry chairman Lord Wakeham said: "Looking to the future, if you have got that increase in numbers and you haven't got any economic benefit from it, you have got to ask yourself is it a wise thing to do?"
Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed the report and said: "We are delighted they say there should be an explicit target range for immigration through controls on non-EU applicants.
"This is a policy that we have been arguing for, for years and which the government has consistently rejected."
Immigration minister Liam Byrne was also positive about the report: "It proves were right to set up the independent Migration Advisory Committee to tell us which workers our new Australian-style points system should keep out or let in."
However, Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Head of Migration at the Institute for Public Policy Research said the report was misleading.
"Recent immigration has brought immense benefits to the UK in terms of economic growth, increased competitiveness and the delivery of public services."
(DS)
The House of Lords committee denigrated the notion that immigration is of benefit to the economy.
It said that record levels of immigration have "little or no impact" on economic growth and that certain minority groups in Britain may have suffered because of the competition from immigrants.
Ministers oppose an annual cap but Conservatives say that they back a limit.
In response to the report, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said that "immigration is good for the UK", and ruled out the introduction of an annual limit.
Mr Brown told reporters at his monthly news conference: "Most people in the City of London know they have benefited substantially.
"Not just from the inward investment that's coming from international companies, but the number of key workers who are coming to join them and are making a huge contribution to the British economy.
"But we want to get the balance right between that and, of course, being sensible about the pressures in our economy."
In the report, 'The Economic Impact of Immigration', the peers, including two ex-chancellors and other Cabinet members, said that the government should have "and explicit target range" for immigration.
"The available evidence suggests that immigration has had a small negative impact on the lowest-paid workers in the UK and a small positive impact on the earnings of higher-paid workers."
Furthermore, the use of GDP as the measure of immigration's economic contribution was "irrelevant and misleading".
Inquiry chairman Lord Wakeham said: "Looking to the future, if you have got that increase in numbers and you haven't got any economic benefit from it, you have got to ask yourself is it a wise thing to do?"
Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed the report and said: "We are delighted they say there should be an explicit target range for immigration through controls on non-EU applicants.
"This is a policy that we have been arguing for, for years and which the government has consistently rejected."
Immigration minister Liam Byrne was also positive about the report: "It proves were right to set up the independent Migration Advisory Committee to tell us which workers our new Australian-style points system should keep out or let in."
However, Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Head of Migration at the Institute for Public Policy Research said the report was misleading.
"Recent immigration has brought immense benefits to the UK in terms of economic growth, increased competitiveness and the delivery of public services."
(DS)
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15 May 2013
65th Person Arrested In Operation Elveden
Met detectives investigating suspected corruption have arrested a former immigration centre employee. Officers from Operation Elveden arrested the 40-year-old man at his home in Slough, Berkshire, around 06:00 this morning (Wednesday). According to the BBC he is being held on suspicion of corruption and misconduct in public office.
65th Person Arrested In Operation Elveden
Met detectives investigating suspected corruption have arrested a former immigration centre employee. Officers from Operation Elveden arrested the 40-year-old man at his home in Slough, Berkshire, around 06:00 this morning (Wednesday). According to the BBC he is being held on suspicion of corruption and misconduct in public office.
03 December 2012
Home Secretary Launches Appeal Over Abu Qatada
The Home Secretary has applied for permission to launch an appeal in the ongoing dispute regarding the future of Jordanian terror suspect Abu Qatada. Theresa May has lodged papers with the civil appeals office at the Court of Appeal ahead of a deadline later.
Home Secretary Launches Appeal Over Abu Qatada
The Home Secretary has applied for permission to launch an appeal in the ongoing dispute regarding the future of Jordanian terror suspect Abu Qatada. Theresa May has lodged papers with the civil appeals office at the Court of Appeal ahead of a deadline later.
31 August 2012
Nine Convicted Over Bedfordshire Immigration Scam
A Luton business man who used one of his restaurants as a cover for an immigration scam has been convicted. Gyash Uddin, 39, of Ivy Road, sponsored visa applications for family members from Bangladesh to come to the UK where he then employed them at his restaurant Moja, in Mill Road, Leighton Buzzard.
Nine Convicted Over Bedfordshire Immigration Scam
A Luton business man who used one of his restaurants as a cover for an immigration scam has been convicted. Gyash Uddin, 39, of Ivy Road, sponsored visa applications for family members from Bangladesh to come to the UK where he then employed them at his restaurant Moja, in Mill Road, Leighton Buzzard.
03 April 2006
Report finds support for annual immigration limit
Three-quarters of the British public support the introduction of an annual immigration limit, according to a poll by campaign group Migrationwatch UK. The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that 76% of respondents questioned supported an annual limit on the number of immigrants allowed to come to Britain.
Report finds support for annual immigration limit
Three-quarters of the British public support the introduction of an annual immigration limit, according to a poll by campaign group Migrationwatch UK. The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that 76% of respondents questioned supported an annual limit on the number of immigrants allowed to come to Britain.
28 January 2005
Howard criticises Labour's immigration policy
Conservative leader, Michael Howard, has criticised Labour's immigration policy in a speech in Kent. Speaking to a meeting of Conservative Parliamentary Candidates and MPs, Mr Howard said that £3 billion pounds has been spent on asylum since Labour came to power, the equivalent to almost £140 per household in England.
Howard criticises Labour's immigration policy
Conservative leader, Michael Howard, has criticised Labour's immigration policy in a speech in Kent. Speaking to a meeting of Conservative Parliamentary Candidates and MPs, Mr Howard said that £3 billion pounds has been spent on asylum since Labour came to power, the equivalent to almost £140 per household in England.
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