Damian Green introduces idea of ‘contribution-based’ immigration system

The Immigration Minister, Damian Green, has outlined the future direction of the immigration system in a speech made at the Policy Exchange on Thursday 2 February.

Mr Green used the speech to reiterate the government’d determination to reduce net migration and also to introduce the government’s longer term plans for the immigration system.

The speech drew on recent reports published by the Migration Advisory Committee and the figures which suggest that net migration is already falling and that the government will be able to meet its own target of net migration below 100,000.

Looking beyond the immediate reductions in numbers Mr Green also proposed a more long-term solution for the immigration question based on a more selective ‘contribution-based’ system.

This principle of ‘selectivity’ will also be key in future reforms to immigration, including changes to family migration and reforms to settlement that will break the link between temporary and permanent migration.’

Family route and settlement consultations

In his speech Mr Green announced that the formal UKBA response to the recent consultations on the family route and Indefinite Leave to Remain will be published. He said that the consultations include examples of the ‘selectivity’ required from the future immigration system.

It should be expected that the consultation responses will suggest increasing the requirements for anyone hoping to become a British citizen, or seeking to come to the UK as a family member of a settled person or citizen.

For example, Mr Green said, ‘Importing economic dependency on the State is unacceptable. Bringing people to this country who can play no role in the life of this country is equally unacceptable.’ He also raised the proposed salary thresholds for family visas and settlement applications.

Skilled worker criteria to rise again

The matter of minimum skill levels for visa applications was also addressed. Mr Green indicated the minimum skill levels would rise further, saying that, ‘Britain does not need more migrant middle managers, any more than it needs unskilled labour. We do need top of the range professionals, senior executives, technical specialists, entrepreneurs and exceptional artistic and scientific talent.’

‘We owe it to British employees, particularly at a time of high unemployment ... to ensure that migration is not seen as the permanent solution, thereby perpetuating the shortage of British workers rather than alleviating temporary gaps in supply.’

However, he also said that the Resident Market Labour Test, which requires UK employers to advertise positions in the UK for 4 weeks before offering it to migrants, should be relaxed for higher salary positions:

‘I have asked the MAC to review the case for easing the Resident Labour Market Test requirement, so that jobs for high earners do not need to be advertised here first. That would make it easier for employers to recruit the most economically valuable migrants to come here.’

As has been seen before, such as with the shortened routes to settlement for investors and high-net-worth individuals, or the exemption of jobs paying over £250,000 from the visa caps, the government reconsiders its hardline stance on immigration for the right numbers.

Mr Green’s speech

Mr Green’s speech included a lot of information about changes made to the immigration system since the Coalition came to power, as well as some indications of future plans.

Included in the nods to future systems, Mr Green indicated that the Immigration Rules would be revised to reduce appeals made using Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. He said that, “Many of these rights, at least in the form they have been given expression through the [courts], are not recognised as such by the bulk of the population. That leads to the ridiculous and damaging situation where the whole concept of Human Rights is called into question. This is not healthy for anyone. It is also dangerous for there to be a long-term stand-off between Parliament and the judges, which is why we want to give better Parliamentary guidance on what should be considered in these kind of cases in future.

‘That means the Rules will reflect how the conditions we set for entry and the right to remain are in our view proportionate and therefore consistent with Article 8 entitlements. This means the Rules will mean what they say and we, applicants and the public will be clear about who is entitled to be here, on what conditions and why.’

His closing remarks were also of interest:

“Our first priority has been, and remains, to get the system back under control, to get the numbers down and keep them down ... The main point I make today is that everyone who comes here must be selected to make a positive contribution. That is at the heart of our commitment to reduce net migration ... In the future it will be more accurate to talk about a contribution-based system. Whether you come here to work, study, or get married, we as a country are entitled to check that you will add to the quality of life in Britain. There are people who think that all immigrants are bad for Britain. There are also people who think that all immigrants are good for Britain. To move the immigration debate on to a higher level let’s take it as read that they are both wrong, and that the legitimate question in today’s world is how can we benefit from immigration.”

The full text of Mr Green’s speech is available from the Home Office website.