Home Secretary promotes economic migration

The Home Secretary has claimed that effectively managed legal migration is vital to Britain's economic and social interests and that it has little or no adverse effect on the wages or employment levels of the existing population.

In a recent speech he pointed out that migrants make a 'disproportionate contribution to the wealth of the UK, accounting for eight per cent of the population but 10 per cent of the UK's gross domestic product - and 20 per cent are more likely to be self-employed.

He claimed that the Government wants to ensure a balanced debate and was keen to emphasise the important contribution made by legal migrants. He spoke of tough measures to tackle abuse of the asylum system and illegal immigration, while at the same time wanting to work to build tolerance and enthusiasm for legal migration.

Home Secretary, David Blunkett said: "Migration is only one facet of the broader phenomenon of globalisation which is shaping the modern world, and I believe it will be seen as one of the great challenges of our time. Managing this in Britain's best interests means neither pulling up the drawbridge nor opening the floodgates."

He outlined the steps the Government was taking to deal with bogus asylum seekers and illegal immigration while remaining fair to those who have genuine cases, claiming progress in these areas was vital to the second strand of the Government's policy - encouraging legal, managed migration, which he said, is good for the economy.

He said: "Migrants make a disproportionate contribution to the wealth of the UK, accounting for eight per cent of the population but 10 per cent of our gross domestic product - and 20 per cent are more likely to be self-employed.

"No modern, successful country can afford to adopt an anti-immigration policy. It is in all our interests to harness the innovation, skills and productivity that new migrants can bring.

"If we are to achieve flexibility and sustainable growth, then legal migration, as opposed to clandestine working, must be the way forward.

"I want to lead a debate that lifts our sights above the difficulties of asylum and illegal immigration, and enhances public understanding of the benefits of legal migration, as well as the need for integration for those who stay."

Home Office research claims that legal migrants contribute £2.5 billion more in taxes than they consume in services and have little or no adverse effect on the wages or employment levels of the existing population.

Limitless immigration

In a television interview after his speech, the Home Secretary caused mixed reactions by claiming that there was 'no obvious limit' to the number of migrants Britain can accept and the current inflow was 'permanently sustainable'.

Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of pressure group MigrationWatch UK, said: "For him to say there is no upper limit is absolutely astonishing.

"We have no problem with moderate and managed migration. The problem is that it is neither moderate nor managed."

The primary route for economic migration to the UK is through the work permit system organised by Work Permits UK, part of the Home Office. In 2002, 136,000 work permits were granted, three times the number in 1997. This year Work Permits UK expect to issue 175,000.

The Home Office also announced that a new website, giving information about the rules and regulations for businesses and those who want to come to the UK to work legally, will go live before the end of this year.