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The creation of a sustainable selective immigration
system that encourages the brightest and best to
come to the UK was reaffirmed today by Immigration
Minister Damian Green.
At a speech at the Policy Exchange, the Minister
expressed a desire to 'raise the tone of the
immigration debate' and start building a national
consensus on how immigration can be made to work for
Britain.
He committed to
pressing on with sweeping reforms that impose
restrictions on those migrants the country does not
need, while developing a greater selectivity to
attract those migrants the country wants.
Damian Green said:
'We need to know not
just that the right number of people are coming
here, but that the right people are coming here.
People that will benefit Britain - not just those
who will benefit by Britain.
'We have laid the
foundations for a sustainable system where we get
numbers down and keep them down. Now we shall make
it work for Britain.'
The government has
committed to reduce net migration numbers from
hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands. In the
latest published quarterly figures, compared to a
year previously, there are early signs of a positive
impact on numbers following restrictions imposed by
this government on non-EEA workers and students.
The government will
soon be announcing further changes to family
migration and reforms to settlement, breaking the
link between temporary and permanent migration. It
will also be completing its changes to eliminate
abuse of the student visa route and is currently
reviewing the annual limit on skilled economic
migrants.
In his speech the
Minister expressed his intention that the long-term
transformation of British immigration policy will
introduce greater selectivity. He added that the
'points based system' of the past should ultimately
be replaced by a 'contribution-based system' where
migrants are checked to ensure they will add to
quality of life in the UK.
This is already
starting with the development of more selective
routes for entrepreneurs, investors and those with
exceptional talent alongside existing routes for
entertainers, trainees and researchers.
The Minister confirmed
the introduction of a new route for international
graduate entrepreneurs - international students who
have engaged in innovative entrepreneurial activity
during their studies and want to stay on afterwards
to develop their business ideas.
The government will
also improve the system for some short-term business
visitors and entertainers to ensure world-class
performers are encouraged to come here.
*The above article has
been extracted from:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2012/february/09immigration-work
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