Legal News
Government Warns Of Economic Damage If Migration Continues (7 September 2011)
Date: 07/09/2011
The government has warned that the economy could experience permanent damage if highly skilled non-EU migrants continue to enter Britain. Consultations on new measures to cut permanent immigration are due to end on September 9th. These measures could restrict migrants’ rights to settle in the UK and may forbid them from remaining in the country in excess of five years.
In April 2011, the government capped the number of migrants from the highly skilled Tier 1 and Tier 2 categories at 22,000, yet government reports reveal that reducing the number of migrants entering in the UK by 10,000 will result in Britain’s GDP falling by £560 million. The report, entitled "Limits on Tier 1 and Tier 2 for 2011/2012 and Supporting Policies", states that Tier 1 and 2 migration does make a positive contribution to GDP and limiting migration is likely to cause significant change in GDP over time. The report warns that uneven cutbacks will impact certain sectors, particularly those that rely on skilled, non-EU workers.
It is reported that Adam Marshall, the British Chambers of Commerce’s director of policy, claims that government measures to limit net immigration must avoid causing harm to the country’s competitiveness and that global talent must be welcomed. Mr Marshall claims that evidence promotes the belief that skilled migrants positively contribute to the UK economy and that closing the door on those with critical skills could endanger business growth. Ministers have vowed to take action on immigration yet are unable to limit migrants from the EU.
Duncan Lewis’ Managed Migration department can guide you through the visa application process. The team of immigration solicitors has close contacts within the UK Immigration Authorities.