The number of
workers entering the UK from outside Europe will be controlled by
a new limit the Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced today.
Net migration will be scaled back to the levels of the 1990s - to
tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands. Introducing a
limit on migrants from outside Europe coming here to work is just
one of the ways the Government intends to achieve this.
Details of how the final limit will be delivered will be agreed
following a 12-week consultation with businesses. In the meantime
an interim limit will be introduced to ensure there is no rush of
applications and the number of work visas issued stays below 2009 levels.
The results of the consultation on the permanent limit will pave
the way for fundamental changes to the way in which workers from
outside the EU will be chosen to come and work in the UK.
The Home Secretary has also asked the Migration Advisory
Committee, the Government's independent adviser on
migration issues, to launch a separate consultation into what
level the limit should be set at, taking into account social and
economic impacts.
Theresa May said:
"This Government believes that Britain can benefit from
migration but not uncontrolled migration. I recognise the
importance of attracting the brightest and the best to ensure
strong economic growth, but unlimited migration places
unacceptable pressure on public services.
"While we consult on our tough new limit it's
important we have an interim measure to avoid a rush of
applications for migrants and ensure that the number of work visas
issued stays below 2009 levels.
"The Government will also introduce measures to support
British people. Alongside limits will be action to get Britain
back to work and provide business with the skills they need from
the resident workforce - reducing the need for migrants at the
same time as we reduce their number."
The Government's consultation will run until the middle
of September. Permanent limits on non-EU economic migration routes
will then be decided and put in place by 1 April 2011.
To avoid large numbers of applications between now and April next
year, the Government will impose an interim limit which will take
effect from 19 July 2010. The interim limits will ensure the
number of work visas issued stays below 2009 levels.
These interim measures include:
- capping the number of Tier One migrants at current levels and
raising the number of points needed by non-EU workers who come to
do highly skilled jobs from 95 to 100; and
- limiting the number of certificates of sponsorship that
licensed employers can issue to those who wish to come to fill
skilled job vacancies. This will reduce the number of people
entering through Tier Two by 1,300.
The Home Secretary added:
"The Government promised large scale change to
Britain's immigration system - and that is what we are
delivering. Alongside the limit on non-EU migrant workers, we have
already introduced a requirement that those coming here to marry
learn English, and our urgent review into child detention for
immigration purposes is under way."
112/2010
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For more information about the Points Based System please
visit the UK
Border Agency website at -
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/
2. The full consultation can be found on the UK Border Agency
Website at
<http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/consultations/limits-on-non-eu-migration/>
3. The latest statistics relating to visas issued under Tiers One
and Two of
the Points Based System can be found at the
following link:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk