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Immigration White Paper: Post-Brexit migration plans unveiled Immigration: White Paper sets out post-Brexit rules for migrants
(35 minutes later)
A skills-based immigration system will be introduced to "get control over our borders" when free movement from the EU ends, the home secretary will announce. A skills-based immigration system will be introduced to "get control over our borders" when free movement with the EU ends, the home secretary is to say.
It will focus on people's "talent and expertise... rather than where they come from", Sajid Javid will say later.It will focus on people's "talent and expertise... rather than where they come from", Sajid Javid will say later.
The system - to be phased in from 2021 - would scrap the cap on high-skilled workers like doctors and engineers.The system - to be phased in from 2021 - would scrap the cap on high-skilled workers like doctors and engineers.
A dispute between ministers over a proposed £30,000 minimum salary for visas has resulted in a compromise. It is understood that there will be further consultation over a proposed £30,000 minimum salary threshold.
Some members of cabinet were worried the set amount would limit the ability of businesses and services to recruit enough staff. Some members of cabinet were worried the set amount - which would apply to skilled workers wanting five year visas - would limit the ability of businesses and services to recruit enough staff.
But agreement between ministers has been reached. The White Paper - a document setting out the government's plans for immigration - is being published on Wednesday morning.
The terms of it will become public when the White Paper - setting out plans for immigration - is published on Wednesday morning.
The much-delayed draft plan leaves out the long-held aim to cut net migration to less than 100,000 a year.The much-delayed draft plan leaves out the long-held aim to cut net migration to less than 100,000 a year.
But the government has said it is still committed to that target.But the government has said it is still committed to that target.
Setting out the paper, which the government says will give it full control over immigration for the first time in decades, Mr Javid will say that it offers employers access to the skills they need.Setting out the paper, which the government says will give it full control over immigration for the first time in decades, Mr Javid will say that it offers employers access to the skills they need.
"We are delivering on the clear instruction to get control over our borders and will bring in a new system that works in the interest of the British people," he will say."We are delivering on the clear instruction to get control over our borders and will bring in a new system that works in the interest of the British people," he will say.
"It will be a single, skills-based immigration system built around the talent and expertise people can bring, rather than where they come from - maximising the benefits of immigration and demonstrating the UK is open for business.""It will be a single, skills-based immigration system built around the talent and expertise people can bring, rather than where they come from - maximising the benefits of immigration and demonstrating the UK is open for business."
The white paper will introduce a new visa route for skilled migrants, from Europe and beyond. The White Paper will introduce a new visa route for skilled migrants, from Europe and beyond.
It accepts a recommendation from the independent Migration Advisory Committee to scrap the current limit of 20,700 on workers classed as high-skilled coming to the UK using "Tier 2" visas.It accepts a recommendation from the independent Migration Advisory Committee to scrap the current limit of 20,700 on workers classed as high-skilled coming to the UK using "Tier 2" visas.
Tier 2 is the name for general work visas, which people are currently eligible for if they are from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland, and have been offered a skilled job in the UK.
End to free movementEnd to free movement
Nicholas Watt, BBC Newsnight's political editor, said another of the committee's suggestions - that Tier 2 applicants must meet a £30,000 salary threshold - was the subject of a dispute between ministers. The BBC's assistant political editor, Norman Smith, said it was understood there would be a consultation over the salary threshold of £30,000 amid widespread opposition to such a cap.
Chancellor Philip Hammond warned that it could harm large areas of the economy. But Theresa May argued it was an example of how the government was honouring the referendum result, he said. Chancellor Philip Hammond warned that it could harm large areas of the economy. But Theresa May argued it was an example of how the government was honouring the referendum result, Nicholas Watt, BBC Newsnight's political editor said.
The two sides eventually agreed a compromise figure for the threshold.
"It is clearly the prime minister who is driving this, because this for her is really personal," Mr Watt said. "She has taken to heart 'take back control'.""It is clearly the prime minister who is driving this, because this for her is really personal," Mr Watt said. "She has taken to heart 'take back control'."
He added: "The absolute definitive red line for her in her negotiations is to end free movement - she's got to show that she is delivering on that."
Valuable workforceValuable workforce
Lobby group the Confederation of British Industry has previously called for net migration targets to be scrapped amid fears that reducing low-skilled immigration could damage business.Lobby group the Confederation of British Industry has previously called for net migration targets to be scrapped amid fears that reducing low-skilled immigration could damage business.
"The UK risks having too few people to run the health service, pick food crops or deliver products to stores around the country," it warned in August."The UK risks having too few people to run the health service, pick food crops or deliver products to stores around the country," it warned in August.
On Tuesday, Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston told the BBC's Newsnight many of the 'valuable workforce' in the NHS and social care did not meet a £30,000 salary threshold. On Tuesday, Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston told Newsnight that many of the "valuable workforce" in the NHS and social care did not meet a £30,000 salary threshold.
"A hospital isn't just about the clinical staff. It's about the porters, the people who work in the kitchen, the social care workforce, who are absolutely crucial to making sure the NHS functions properly," she said."A hospital isn't just about the clinical staff. It's about the porters, the people who work in the kitchen, the social care workforce, who are absolutely crucial to making sure the NHS functions properly," she said.
There would be additional costs to the NHS of applying new bureaucratic measures, she added.There would be additional costs to the NHS of applying new bureaucratic measures, she added.
The NHS has previously warned that immigration rules were hampering their ability to find workers after visas were refused.
Earlier this year, the government announced foreign medics would be excluded from the government's cap on Tier 2 high-skilled migrants, which is now to be scrapped completely.
The cap on the number of Tier 2 visas for high-skilled workers has been in place since 2011. Until December 2017, it had only been exceeded once, in June 2015, but recently it has been hit for several months in a row.
NHS workers make up 40% of all Tier 2 places, the government said.
In February this year, NHS England said it had 35,000 nurse vacancies and nearly 10,000 doctor posts unfilled.