Migrants could plug staffing shortages
Social carers and planners from outside the EU could yet be allowed into Britain to plug skills shortages on councils, a minister has hinted.
In a week of mixed signals from ministers about immigration, local government minister Sadiq Khan said discussions were underway about “finessing” the proposed new restrictions.
Local government has expressed dismay that the points system for allowing workers into the UK recommended by the government’s Migration Advisory Committee would prevent it from bringing in many skilled professionals.
Speaking at an Improvement & Development Agencyconference last Thursday, Mr Khan said: “There’s a big debate taking place in government in the Home Office and Department for Communities & Local Government. It’s clear that the points system needs finessing.”
Later, he told LGC that discussions had been taking place in the Migration Impacts Forum through which the government takes soundings on the issue from key professionals.
“The two issues the Migration Impacts Forum discussed were town planners and social care,” he said.
Mr Khan made his comments before immigration minister Phil Woolas appeared to indicate in a newspaper interview that new limits on migration could be imposed at a time of rising unemployment.
“It’s been too easy to get into this country in the past and it’s going to get harder,” Mr Woolas said.
Darra Singh, the Ealing LBC chief executive who warned of “far-reaching negative implications, particularly in London” if the proposed points-based system was imposed (LGC, 2/10/08), described Mr Khan’s intervention as “helpful”.
“It is to be welcomed that Sadiq Khan is pushing for the Migration Impacts Forum to look at key shortages before any new system is implemented,” he said.
A DCLG spokeswoman said a decision would be made “in due course”.
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