Plans requiring
would-be-citizens to earn enough points to stay permanently in the
UK were revealed by the Government today.
The new Points Based Test for Citizenship - an extension of the
already successful Australian-style Points Based System - will
award migrants points for building up different attributes and
skills. Proposals being launched in the new consultation would see
people rewarded for economic contributions, skills and English
language proficiency above the level already expected. Points
could be removed and citizenship withheld or delayed for those
breaking the law or committing anti-social behaviour.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:
“The Government has already made fundamental reforms to the
immigration system to control migration in a way that is firm, and
has a positive impact on our workforce and economy.
“To complement this, we have made it clear people must earn their
right to stay in the UK permanently by working hard, obeying the
law and speaking English.
“Being British is a privilege - these proposals break the link
between coming to work here temporarily and being given the right
to citizenship.”
This system builds on the changes to earned citizenship
introduced by the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009,
which passed through Parliament last month. A Points Based Test
for Citizenship will give the Government more control over the
numbers of people permitted to settle here permanently, allowing
the bar for settlement to be raised or lowered depending on the
needs of the country and the economy.
One of the key principles of the earned citizenship system is
building community cohesion, through encouraging community
involvement through ‘active citizenship’.
Migrants already contribute to communities throughout the UK and
the Government wants to support integration by encouraging more of
these activities. That is why a migrant’s journey to citizenship
will be sped up if they conduct voluntary or civic work. As part
of this new 12 week consultation, the Government will work closely
with local authorities to ensure any voluntary or community work
being undertaken by applicants is checked and verified.
Under the current system those wanting citizenship have to pass a
Life in the UK test to demonstrate both their knowledge of the
country and their ability to speak English. The Government is
proposing tightening this even further with a new two-stage
system. This will focus on practical information about life in the
UK at probationary citizenship stage, and then a further test at
the final stage with more challenging topics including history and
politics.
The Government will also seek views on how the
positive impacts of migration for developing countries - for
example in terms of remittances and increased skills - can be
maximised, and the negative impacts such as the brain drain can be reduced.
Mr Woolas added;
“The new path to citizenship aims to create the right balance for
Britain, allowing us to better manage and provide support for
those on the journey to citizenship. But it is important also to
recognise the impacts - both positive and negative - which
migration can have on source countries in the developing world.
“We believe it is right that Government should play a role in
managing negative impacts on developing countries.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 was passed
on 21 July 2009.
2. The ‘Earning the right to stay: A new Points Based Test for
Citizenship’ consultation can be found on the UK Border agency
website at <http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/consultations/current/>
3. Full details on obtaining British citizenship can be found
online at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/
4. The new path to citizenship in the Borders, Citizenship and
Immigration Act 2009 requires that newcomers earn the right to
stay. We announced in Building Britain's Future
(published by the Prime Minister on 29 June) that we now intend to
extend the Points Based System to probationary citizenship,
strengthening control of the number of people getting settlement -
<http://www.hmg.gov.uk/buildingbritainsfuture/immigration-citizenship.aspx>
Ref 157-09
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk