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Migration 'causes pressure in UK' Migration 'causes pressure in UK'
(about 2 hours 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 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 gathers reports on challenges raised by immigration across the country and sits alongside a separate economist-led body.
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. In a first review of the regional picture, the forum received anecdotal reports of pressures across five key areas: crime and disorder, community cohesion, health, education and housing.
Pressures The reports were compiled by regional groups including police, health and education officials. Five out of eight regions told Whitehall they had seen "difficulties" relating to crime and education.
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. Six of the eight said they were concerned about health service issues.
The eight regional co-ordination groups which prepared the report included local authority members, police, health and education officials. It means we have to take into account the wider impact on British public services and life as well Liam Byrne, Immigration Minister
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. Seven regions raised the issue of housing - although concerns appear to be focused on exploitation of migrants rather than pressure on accommodation.
It means we have to take into account the wider impact on British public services and life as well Liam Byrne, Immigration minister All the regions asked for more information on movements of people, including those with children, so they could better plan public services.
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. The government's Office for National Statistics has already said it is reviewing how it counts migration.
Regions said they needed more information on movements of people, including those with children, so they could better plan public services. There were also concerns in some areas about an increase in low-level crimes such as driving offences, anti-social behaviour and community tensions.
In particular, Sheffield and the East Midlands said there were increased demands on GPs.
'New balance''New balance'
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.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said it was important to "strike a new balance" in immigration policy.Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said it was important to "strike a new balance" in immigration policy.
"That means looking at the wider benefits to the British economy on the one hand, but it means we have to take into account the wider impact on British public services and life as well."That means looking at the wider benefits to the British economy on the one hand, but it means we have to take into account the wider impact on British public services and life as well.
The government should set an explicit limit every year Damian Green, shadow minister for immigration
"We need to weigh both things up before we take big decisions on immigration including whether to keep restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian workers.""We need to weigh both things up before we take big decisions on immigration including whether to keep restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian workers."
The BBC's Danny Shaw said while the report offered the first official results on the social impact of migration, it was still "anecdotal".
Over the past year an increasing number of local authorities have raised concerns over immigration.
More resourcesMore resources
Over the past year an increasing number of local authorities have raised concerns over immigration.
The government should set an explicit limit every year Damian Green, shadow minister for immigration
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. However, reports passed back to government suggested ways of minimising problems, including briefing packs on British society and laws, encouraging employers to provide English lessons and basic local council help with integrating 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 economic benefits against social impact.
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."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.
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch, said migration on the scale Britain was currently facing was having a "huge impact" with "little economic justification". On Tuesday, the Home Office published a detailed report setting out the economic case for migration, saying all evidence pointed towards a "clear benefit" to the UK.
He added: "You cannot do anything about the Eastern Europeans because they are members of the EU and their numbers are likely to decline as the level of these economies come up. 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.
"Three quarters of migrants come from the rest of the world."
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.
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.
But Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said migration on the scale Britain was currently facing was having a "huge impact" with "little economic justification".
He added the government must look at cutting the numbers of migrants from non-EU countries.
"You cannot do anything about the eastern Europeans because they are members of the EU and their numbers are likely to decline as the level of these economies come up," he said.
"Three quarters of migrants come from the rest of the world."