26/03/2010 – PM outlines new immigration measures
In a podcast released today, the Prime Minister set out how the Government is transforming the way it tackles immigration through its new points-based system and the steps it’s taking to identify skills shortages and bottlenecks.
Gordon Brown said a strong skills and employment policy, combined with tightly controlled immigration will “continue to benefit Britain” as growth returns.
He added that due to a reduced need for their services unskilled migrant workers from outside the EU will not be allowed into the UK “this year and for the foreseeable future.” As investment in training raises local skills levels, the need for skilled migrant workers will also be reduced. The right to citizenship or to stay in the UK permanently will now be linked to factors such as economic contribution and adherence to law rather than time spent in the country.
The Government says that electronic border controls now allow migrants to be counted in and out of the country, and the introduction of biometric ID cards for foreign nationals, already issued to 170,000, will make it easier to identify and remove illegal workers.