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| Councils seek more migrant funds | Councils seek more migrant funds |
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| Immigration is placing increased pressure on services such as schools and hospitals, a report has claimed. | Immigration is placing increased pressure on services such as schools and hospitals, a report has claimed. |
| The Local Government Association is calling for a £250m-a-year fund to help regions struggling to cope with unexpected influxes of migrants. | The Local Government Association is calling for a £250m-a-year fund to help regions struggling to cope with unexpected influxes of migrants. |
| It wants National Insurance numbers, GP registrations and schools census data used to help track population changes. | It wants National Insurance numbers, GP registrations and schools census data used to help track population changes. |
| The report comes after ministers admitted estimates of migrant workers since 1997 were wrong by 300,000. | |
| The LGA, which represents 400 councils across England and Wales, commissioned the report, which was carried out by the Institute of Community Cohesion. | The LGA, which represents 400 councils across England and Wales, commissioned the report, which was carried out by the Institute of Community Cohesion. |
| 'Very flexible' | 'Very flexible' |
| It surveyed more than 100 councils and public bodies and found most reported pressure on services - with extra costs being met "at the expense of mainstream budgets". | It surveyed more than 100 councils and public bodies and found most reported pressure on services - with extra costs being met "at the expense of mainstream budgets". |
| The report highlights seven "key issues" for public services, including the impact on schools, child protection services, language barriers, housing, community relations, crime - often against migrants - and health. | The report highlights seven "key issues" for public services, including the impact on schools, child protection services, language barriers, housing, community relations, crime - often against migrants - and health. |
| The LGA concerns come in the wake of a report by the Home Office's Migration Impacts Forum, which said nearly every region in the UK had difficulties in housing, health, education and crime - due to increased migration. | The LGA concerns come in the wake of a report by the Home Office's Migration Impacts Forum, which said nearly every region in the UK had difficulties in housing, health, education and crime - due to increased migration. |
| 'Distorting effects' | 'Distorting effects' |
| Some councils complained that official statistics on population - used to calculate their funding - underestimate the number of migrants they are receiving. | Some councils complained that official statistics on population - used to calculate their funding - underestimate the number of migrants they are receiving. |
| Slough Borough Council believes it will be shortchanged by up to £15m in government grants up to 2011. Westminster City Council says it will lose out by £12m. No-one has a real grasp of where, or for how long, migrants are settling, so much-needed funding for local services isn't getting to the right places Sir Simon MiltonLGA chairman Tories hailed on immigration | Slough Borough Council believes it will be shortchanged by up to £15m in government grants up to 2011. Westminster City Council says it will lose out by £12m. No-one has a real grasp of where, or for how long, migrants are settling, so much-needed funding for local services isn't getting to the right places Sir Simon MiltonLGA chairman Tories hailed on immigration |
| The LGA says a £250m-a-year contingency fund would help local authorities experiencing high rates of immigration and called for an overhaul of migration statistics. | The LGA says a £250m-a-year contingency fund would help local authorities experiencing high rates of immigration and called for an overhaul of migration statistics. |
| LGA chairman Sir Simon Milton said: "Official statistics on how many migrants are coming and where they are going are inadequate. | LGA chairman Sir Simon Milton said: "Official statistics on how many migrants are coming and where they are going are inadequate. |
| "No-one has a real grasp of where, or for how long, migrants are settling, so much-needed funding for local services isn't getting to the right places." | "No-one has a real grasp of where, or for how long, migrants are settling, so much-needed funding for local services isn't getting to the right places." |
| He said immigration had been good for the economy and some industries would collapse without it, but added: "The problem is that the money that is being generated isn't necessarily finding its way back down to the local level." | He said immigration had been good for the economy and some industries would collapse without it, but added: "The problem is that the money that is being generated isn't necessarily finding its way back down to the local level." |
| 'Open door' | 'Open door' |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "This report confirms what we have been saying for some time - Labour's 'open door' approach to immigration is placing huge pressure on public services and housing. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "This report confirms what we have been saying for some time - Labour's 'open door' approach to immigration is placing huge pressure on public services and housing. |
| "This is being made worse by shoddy government statistics which underestimate the numbers and have left councils short of the resources to take this increased strain." | "This is being made worse by shoddy government statistics which underestimate the numbers and have left councils short of the resources to take this increased strain." |
| Liberal Democrat communities spokesman Andrew Stunell said it was impossible for councils to cope with rapid changes in population. | Liberal Democrat communities spokesman Andrew Stunell said it was impossible for councils to cope with rapid changes in population. |
| "Councils in hot-spot areas have been telling ministers for several years that the national figures were wrong, and that they urgently needed extra help," he said. | "Councils in hot-spot areas have been telling ministers for several years that the national figures were wrong, and that they urgently needed extra help," he said. |
| Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said she recognised that migration could put a strain on public services and that "some individual local authorities are experiencing more challenges than others." | Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said she recognised that migration could put a strain on public services and that "some individual local authorities are experiencing more challenges than others." |
| She added that the government had allocated more resources over three years to support councils, which amounted to £960m in the first year alone. | She added that the government had allocated more resources over three years to support councils, which amounted to £960m in the first year alone. |
| "On top of that we have also announced £50m to help local communities manage cohesion and promote integration," she said. | "On top of that we have also announced £50m to help local communities manage cohesion and promote integration," she said. |
| Have your local public services been affected by the unexpected influxes of migrants? What could councils do to promote integration? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have your local public services been affected by the unexpected influxes of migrants? What could councils do to promote integration? Send us your comments using the form below. |