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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Migration 'causes pressure in UK' | Migration 'causes pressure in UK' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Almost every UK region has difficulties in housing, health, education and crime because of increased migration, according to an official report. | Almost every UK region has difficulties in housing, health, education and crime because of increased migration, according to an official report. |
| The findings are contained in a report drawn up to advise ministers on the social impact of immigration. | The findings are contained in a report drawn up to advise ministers on the social impact of immigration. |
| The Home Office's Migration Impacts Forum is meeting to discuss the effect of eastern European workers. | The Home Office's Migration Impacts Forum is meeting to discuss the effect of eastern European workers. |
| On Tuesday ministers published a review of immigration research showing "clear benefits" to the British economy. | On Tuesday ministers published a review of immigration research showing "clear benefits" to the British economy. |
| The Forum, chaired by two ministers, was set up to gather evidence and recommend ways of dealing with challenges raised by immigration across the country. | The Forum, chaired by two ministers, was set up to gather evidence and recommend ways of dealing with challenges raised by immigration across the country. |
| It sits alongside a separate economist-led body that from next year will advise ministers which sectors of the economy should be open to migration. Similar systems operate in other countries. | It sits alongside a separate economist-led body that from next year will advise ministers which sectors of the economy should be open to migration. Similar systems operate in other countries. |
| Pressures | Pressures |
| But in a first review of the regional picture, a presentation prepared for the impacts forum warns that pressures are being felt across five key areas: crime and disorder, community cohesion, health, education and housing. | But in a first review of the regional picture, a presentation prepared for the impacts forum warns that pressures are being felt across five key areas: crime and disorder, community cohesion, health, education and housing. |
| The eight regional co-ordination groups which prepared the report included local authority members, police, health and education officials. | |
| Five of the eight regional bodies feeding information back to Whitehall said they had seen difficulties relating to crime and education. Six of the eight said they were concerned about health service issues. | |
| The government should set an explicit limit every year Damian Green, shadow minister for immigration | |
| Only one of the eight regions did not draw attention to pressures on housing - although many problems were said to be with unscrupulous landlords rather than pressures on housing stock. | Only one of the eight regions did not draw attention to pressures on housing - although many problems were said to be with unscrupulous landlords rather than pressures on housing stock. |
| Regions said they needed more information on movements of people, including those with children, so they could better plan public services. | Regions said they needed more information on movements of people, including those with children, so they could better plan public services. |
| In particular, Sheffield and the East Midlands said there were increased demands on GPs. | |
| Immigrants were reported to use accident and emergency departments instead of a GP surgery in the East of England, North Lincolnshire and Southampton. | |
| There were also concerns about an increase in low-level crimes such as driving offences and anti-social behaviour, and community tensions in the North West, South West and Scotland. | |
| The BBC's Danny Shaw said while the report offered the first official results on the social impact of migration, it was still "anecdotal". | |
| He added that the report had highlighted the need for translators, particularly for schools and health services. | |
| Over the past year an increasing number of local authorities have raised concerns over immigration. | Over the past year an increasing number of local authorities have raised concerns over immigration. |
| More resources | More resources |
| They say that while their areas have economically benefited from more workers, public services may be suffering if funding does not reflect how their areas are changing. | They say that while their areas have economically benefited from more workers, public services may be suffering if funding does not reflect how their areas are changing. |
| Cambridgeshire Police's chief constable clashed with the Home Office in September after warning her force needed more resources to cope with immigrant-related pressures. | Cambridgeshire Police's chief constable clashed with the Home Office in September after warning her force needed more resources to cope with immigrant-related pressures. |
| But reports passed to the forum also recommend ways of minimising problems, including briefing packs for newly-arriving workers, more English lessons and getting employers to do more to socially integrate newcomers into communities. | But reports passed to the forum also recommend ways of minimising problems, including briefing packs for newly-arriving workers, more English lessons and getting employers to do more to socially integrate newcomers into communities. |
| Damian Green, shadow minister for immigration, told the BBC that quotas were needed to balance the economic benefits of migrants against the longer-term social impact. | |
| "We say of course you should look at the economics, at the effects on public services, on demand for housing, school places and so on, and that then the government should set an explicit limit every year," he said. | |
| On Tuesday, a separate paper published by the Home Office set out the economic case for migration, saying that all evidence pointed towards a "clear benefit" to the UK. | On Tuesday, a separate paper published by the Home Office set out the economic case for migration, saying that all evidence pointed towards a "clear benefit" to the UK. |
| It said claims that Eastern European workers had taken jobs from British people were unsubstantiated - instead they had contributed towards an expanding of the economy. | It said claims that Eastern European workers had taken jobs from British people were unsubstantiated - instead they had contributed towards an expanding of the economy. |
| However, it added that some of the lowest paid workers can lose out in the face of cheaper foreign workers, even with the minimum wage in place. | However, it added that some of the lowest paid workers can lose out in the face of cheaper foreign workers, even with the minimum wage in place. |