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| Migration 'causes pressure in UK' | Migration 'causes pressure in UK' |
| (10 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 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 gathers reports on challenges raised by immigration across the country and sits alongside a separate economist-led body. | The forum gathers reports on challenges raised by immigration across the country and sits alongside a separate economist-led body. |
| AREAS REPORTING CONCERNS Homelessness: E Mids and Scotland Education: S West, E Mids, North West GP caseload: Sheffield and East Mids A&E arrivals: East, Lincs and Southampton Tensions: N West, S West and Scotland Migrants exploited: Most areas Note: Report relies on anecdotal reports of problems compiled in eight regions of the UK. Regional consultation on impacts of migration [669KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | AREAS REPORTING CONCERNS Homelessness: E Mids and Scotland Education: S West, E Mids, North West GP caseload: Sheffield and East Mids A&E arrivals: East, Lincs and Southampton Tensions: N West, S West and Scotland Migrants exploited: Most areas Note: Report relies on anecdotal reports of problems compiled in eight regions of the UK. Regional consultation on impacts of migration [669KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Six of the eight said they were concerned about health service issues. | 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. | Seven regions raised the issue of housing - although concerns appear to be focused on exploitation of migrants rather than pressure on accommodation. |
| All the regions asked for more information on movements of people, including those with children, so they could better plan public services. | All the regions asked for more information on movements of people, including those with children, so they could better plan public services. |
| The government's Office for National Statistics has already said it is reviewing how it counts migration. | The government's Office for National Statistics has already said it is reviewing how it counts migration. |
| There were also concerns in some areas about an increase in low-level crimes such as driving offences, anti-social behaviour and community tensions. | There were also concerns in some areas about an increase in low-level crimes such as driving offences, anti-social behaviour and community tensions. |
| 'New balance' | 'New balance' |
| 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. |
| "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." |
| More resources | More resources |
| 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. |
| This confirms what everyone knows but what Labour have been in denial about - that immigration has a real impact on the housing and public service infrastructure Shadow home secretary David Davis | This confirms what everyone knows but what Labour have been in denial about - that immigration has a real impact on the housing and public service infrastructure Shadow home secretary David Davis |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 economic benefits against 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. |
| MIGRANTS AND THE ECONOMY 12.5% of working age population"Clear benefits" to UKNo effect on unemployment"Modest negative" impact on lowest paid Source: Home Office report Migrants 'one eighth of workers' | MIGRANTS AND THE ECONOMY 12.5% of working age population"Clear benefits" to UKNo effect on unemployment"Modest negative" impact on lowest paid Source: Home Office report Migrants 'one eighth of workers' |
| Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah of the Insitute of Public Policy Research said it was time for government to move on from anecdotal evidence on the effects of migration. | |
| "It's not surprising that migration has some social impacts in some circumstances - that's the case with any phenomenon," said Dr Sriskandarajah. | |
| "But what we need is effective intelligence about what the real pressure points are and how we should deal with them." | |
| Economic report | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | "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." | "Three quarters of migrants come from the rest of the world." |