Oral Answers to Questions

Iain Stewart Excerpts

Monday 21st May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)]

2. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the permanent cap on non-EU work migrants after its first year of operation.

[Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con)]

4. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the permanent cap on non-EU work migrants after its first year of operation.

[Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con)]

10. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the permanent cap on non-EU work migrants after its first year of operation.

--- Later in debate ---

[Damian Green]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. Immigration reform is one necessary element of creating a more balanced labour force, but the other two elements are welfare and educational reform, which will ensure that British workers are trained and have the right attitude to take the jobs available, in agriculture or in other sectors. [Interruption.] The Opposition Front-Bench team appear to deride these types of jobs. I suggest that is a big mistake.

[Iain Stewart]

I welcome the new income and language criteria introduced alongside the cap. Does the Minister agree that these measures give the public confidence that economic migrants are here to benefit the economy and contribute to society?

[Damian Green]

It is important that we create, as we are doing, a more selective immigration system designed to attract and reward migrants who can make the biggest contribution to our economy. By raising the minimum skills threshold and the English-language requirements, we have ensured that only migrants who are highly skilled or who have skills that are in short supply can come to the UK to work and settle.