Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Bone Excerpts
Thursday 18th November 2010

(14 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his contribution to that valuable report, whose conclusions the Home Secretary has endorsed. Our overall approach to this is reflected in the answer that the Prime Minister gave in Parliament yesterday. He said that he wanted our policy to be

“business-friendly and helpful to the economy.”—[Official Report, 17 November 2010; Vol. 518, c. 885.]

Skilled, entrepreneurial and talented people will be welcome under the immigration policy.

Peter Bone Portrait Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)
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I am sure that Government Members entirely welcome the Government’s cap on immigration. Obviously we will be having a debate on immigration later today, which has been put on by the Backbench Business Committee. Will the Secretary of State confirm that the immigration cap does not apply to EU citizens, so they represent a big pool for small businesses to attract?

Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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The hon. Gentleman is right on a matter of fact: this is a cap on non-EU migration, not on migration from the EU.