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David Cameron unveils new non-EU migration crackdown David Cameron unveils new non-EU migration crackdown
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron has unveiled measures to "significantly reduce" the scale of UK migration from outside the EU.David Cameron has unveiled measures to "significantly reduce" the scale of UK migration from outside the EU.
During prime minister's questions, he proposed new restrictions on work visas, and a higher salary threshold before people are allowed into the UK.During prime minister's questions, he proposed new restrictions on work visas, and a higher salary threshold before people are allowed into the UK.
Home Secretary Theresa May has asked the government's Migration Advisory Committee to come up with firm proposals by the end of the year.Home Secretary Theresa May has asked the government's Migration Advisory Committee to come up with firm proposals by the end of the year.
Non-EU migration was 290,000 in 2014, an increase of 42,000.Non-EU migration was 290,000 in 2014, an increase of 42,000.
Total net migration - the difference between the numbers entering and leaving the country - reached 318,000, close to its 2005 peak.Total net migration - the difference between the numbers entering and leaving the country - reached 318,000, close to its 2005 peak.
The government is still aiming to get net migration below 100,000, and with free movement enshrined in EU law, Mr Cameron has more freedom to act in relation to people coming from outside Europe.The government is still aiming to get net migration below 100,000, and with free movement enshrined in EU law, Mr Cameron has more freedom to act in relation to people coming from outside Europe.
'Skills levy'
Mr Cameron told MPs: "In the past it has been frankly too easy for some businesses to bring in workers from overseas rather than to take the long term decision to train our workforce here at home."Mr Cameron told MPs: "In the past it has been frankly too easy for some businesses to bring in workers from overseas rather than to take the long term decision to train our workforce here at home."
He said the advisory committee would consider:He said the advisory committee would consider:
Mr Cameron's comments came following a question from new Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns,Mr Cameron's comments came following a question from new Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns,
The proposals were questioned by Simon Walker, of the Institute of Directors, who said the "supposedly lower" cost of migrant labour was a "red herring".The proposals were questioned by Simon Walker, of the Institute of Directors, who said the "supposedly lower" cost of migrant labour was a "red herring".
Just 4% of the institute's members who hire from abroad do so because of cost of labour, he said.Just 4% of the institute's members who hire from abroad do so because of cost of labour, he said.
Mr Walker also said any increase in the cost of visas was "essentially a tax on employing people from abroad".Mr Walker also said any increase in the cost of visas was "essentially a tax on employing people from abroad".
He added: "This seems particularly odd given how dependent the UK economy is on international skills and expertise.He added: "This seems particularly odd given how dependent the UK economy is on international skills and expertise.
"The prime minister is absolutely right to focus on upskilling the domestic workforce, but there's no quick fix and it could appear misguided to risk harming the economy today in the hope of seeing results a decade down the line.""The prime minister is absolutely right to focus on upskilling the domestic workforce, but there's no quick fix and it could appear misguided to risk harming the economy today in the hope of seeing results a decade down the line."
'Window dressing'
UKIP MP Douglas Carswell said that without action to address the free movement of labour within the European Union, all other measures to control immigration were "window dressing".
"What I am alarmed about is this government is going to give migration control a bad name," he told the BBC News Channel.
"If we are going to restrict the rights of GPs who have come here from India to make a difference and work for our NHS but at the same time allow people, potentially not just with no skills but maybe with criminal records from other EU countries an automatic right to come here, we are going to give the idea of migration control a bad name."
The House of Commons, he said, should hold a vote every year to decide how many work visas are issued.
"Until we address the European angle, all the rest is just blah, blah," he added.