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Immigration Solicitors

Government’s failure to commission data “resulted in public fears” over immigration (25 March 2014)

Date: 25/03/2014
Duncan Lewis, Immigration Solicitors, Government’s failure to commission  data “resulted in public fears” over immigration

A report by the Home Affairs Select Committee has found that fears over immigration from Bulgaria and Romania when border restrictions on the two countries were lifted on 1 January were fuelled as a result of government shortcomings - including a failure on the part of the government to commission estimates of how many migrants might arrive in the UK after the border restrictions were lifted.

The Home Affairs Select Committee said that the government’s failure in not obtaining accurate estimates as to how many migrant workers might arrive in the UK after border restrictions were lifted played into the hands of those who “wish to inflame tensions about immigration for political gain”.

The report said that the public’s prejudices and fears over immigration had been stoked as a result.

Some sources claimed that the UK would be deluged with workers from Bulgaria and Romania once border restrictions on workers from those countries were lifted.

David Cameron introduced measures to limit access to welfare benefits for new migrants, including a three-month qualifying period for new migrants wishing to claim out-of-work benefits in Britain.

The European Commission (EC) has criticised the moves to limit access to benefits to new migrants to the UK, claiming that it is unlawful. It is thought the EC will launch a legal case against Britain over the government’s new welfare restrictions for migrants, which were introduced after fears were whipped up over the number of “benefit tourists” and workers without job offers who might arrive in the UK in the New Year.

The Home Affairs Select Committee report said, however, that the number of new migrants who arrived in the UK after 1 January was “more a trickle than a flood”.

The chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz MP, hit the headlines when he arrived at Luton Airport at New Year to welcome new migrants from Bulgaria and Romania - and found just one new arrival without work in the UK. Shortly afterwards, the newcomer was found be working for a car wash rather than claiming benefits.

Commenting on the committee’s report, Mr Vaz said:

“The government’s failure to commission an estimate of these numbers has led to unnecessary anti-immigration prejudice - and is a blot on our tolerant society.

“It is essential that for future enlargement of the EU, the government commission research on the impact of migration to the UK.”

Mr Vaz added that if the government failed to commission the necessary research on the impact of immigration on Britain, the Home Affairs Select Committee would do so.

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