IMMIGRANTS FACE 'FORTRESS BRITAIN' IN THE FUTURE
(7 February 2005)

British Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, today set out the next stage of the Government's comprehensive reform of the UK's immigration and asylum system. The wide-ranging plan will ensure that only those who benefit Britain can come here to work or study, it will strengthen the UK's borders; crack down on abuse and illegal immigration; and increase removals. Key measures outlined today include a transparent points system, similar to that used in Australia, for those who come to work and study in Britain, an end to chain migration for relatives and penalities for employers using illegal workers.

Asylum applications are down 67 per cent from a peak at October 2002, four out of five new asylum claims are now decided in two months rather than the 20 months it took in 1997, the number of asylum claims outstanding is at a 10-year low and numbers receiving NASS support continue to fall. Border controls have been tightened with the introduction of detection technology and UK immigration officers in mainland Europe. Enforcement action on illegal working has been stepped up and the removal of failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants has doubled since 1997.

Key measures in the strategy include:

On migration

* A transparent points system for those coming in to work or study.

* Financial bonds for specific categories where there has been evidence of abuse, to guarantee that migrants return home.

* An end to chain migration - no immediate or automatic right for relatives to bring in more relatives.

* An end to appeals when applying from abroad to work or study.

* Only skilled workers allowed to settle long-term in the UK and English language tests for everyone who wants to stay permanently.

* Fixed penalty fines for employers for each illegal worker they employ as part of the drive against illegal working.

On asylum

* Granting refugees temporary leave rather than permanent status to begin with, and keep the situation in their country under review.

* More detention of failed asylum seekers.

* Fast-track processing of all unfounded asylum seekers, with electronic tagging where necessary.

* Strong border controls with fingerprinting of all visa applicants and electronic checks on all those entering and leaving the country.

* Removals of failed asylum seekers to exceed failed claims.

Mr Clarke said: "The public need to have confidence that our immigration system is properly run and enforced, with strict controls that work. People need to understand clearly who is allowed into the country and why, who is allowed to settle permanently and why - and that it is decided by what is in the interests of Britain.

"This country needs migration - tourists, students and migrant workers make a vital contribution to the UK economy. But we need to ensure that we let in migrants with the skills and talents to benefit Britain, while stopping those trying to abuse our hospitality and place a burden on our society.

"Over the next five years we will use new technology to transform our immigration control including the roll-out of e-borders and fingerprinting everyone who applies for a visa.

"Each year there are millions of visitors to our shores. We have global communications, global economies and global movement of people. We have to adapt to these developments, not by putting up the shutters, but by managing, controlling and selecting.

The strategy sets out:

On migration

* A new points system for people applying to work or study in the UK. The simple scheme will consist of four new tiers: highly skilled, skilled, low skilled and student/specialist (such as football players) and will sweep away the complexity of the current system. Points will be adjusted to respond to changes in the labour market giving the system flexibility and control. An independent labour market advisory group will 'take the politics' out of identifying the skills gaps.

* Financial Bonds where necessary for specific categories where there has been evidence of abuse. This will be refundable only on return to country of origin.

* Ending chain migration by limiting family migration. There will be an end to the practice whereby those who have settled in the UK can bring in dependents who can then bring in further family members in their own right.

* Ending appeals. The Government has already reduced the number of times an asylum seeker can appeal against a decision, and will now extend this to migration routes by abolishing appeals for those seeking to enter the UK to work or study.

* There will be no automatic right to stay in the UK for lower skilled workers and students. They will have to leave when their visas expire. Only skilled workers who support themselves financially can apply to stay permanently after five years - an increase on the current four - and they will be required to speak and write English.

* Employers' responsibilities will ensure that those who benefit from migration will share the responsibility for making the system robust. Below the most highly skilled, each migrant will need a sponsor (normally their employer) who must work with the Government to ensure a migrant worker complies with the rules of their entry to the UK and returns home at the end of their stay. As part of the continued drive against illegal working the Government will also introduce 2,000 fixed penalty fines for employers for each illegal worker.

On asylum

* Granting refugees temporary leave rather than permanent status while the Government reviews whether the situation in their country has improved. If it has not improved after five years, they would be granted them permanent status, otherwise they would be expected them to return.

* Expansion of the detention estate with 300 new places by 2007. Over time, as asylum intake falls and removals increase, as the UK negotiates even more effective return agreements, we will move towards the point where it becomes the norm that those who fail can be detained.

* Fast tracking and closer management of asylum claims. The very significant fall in the number of asylum applications means the Government can expand fast-tracking for most new applications, and will expand the number of those detained under fast-track (including new female fast-track at Yarl's Wood) from May. The Government will introduce tighter controls throughout the process, including using technology such as tagging and voice recognition, to assist removal.

* Strengthening the UK's borders through the rollout of 'e-borders' - where travellers will be electronically checked before they reach the UK, as they enter and as they leave. Ten high risk routes covering six million people will have the new technology from as early as April this year. Immigration controls will continue to be extended beyond the UK's borders, with immigration officers clearing migrants for entry in their own country. The introduction of biometric identity cards will support this work. The Government will expand the successful airline liaison officer network in high risk countries, working with airlines to stop illegal entrants setting off for the UK.

* Further action on removals. There has been steady progress on removing failed asylum seekers but there is still more to do. More failed asylum seekers will be removed than there are unsuccessful applicants by the end of 2005. The Government will work with source countries to secure more returns by placing immigration at the heart of our relationship, supporting them in their efforts but making clear that failure to co-operate will have repercussions - including access to some migration schemes such as the working holiday makers scheme. The Government will have more control over applicants throughout the expanded fast track process through detention and tagging, leading to more removals.

'Controlling our borders: making migration work for Britain' the Home Office give year strategy for asylum and immigration can be found at http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm64/6472/6472.htm and on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk

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