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News Articles for February 2012
February 23, 2012
Chief Inspector’s Report into Asylum Detained Fast Track System
February 23, 2012
The Latest Net Migration Figures
February 21, 2012
Two Thirds of Births in London are to a Foreign Born Parent
February 15, 2012
Response to the Institute of Directors on Student Immigration Reforms
February 13, 2012
Response to Home Office Statement on Student Visas
February 1, 2012
ONS Population Projections
Full Text of Press Release : February 2012
Chief Inspector’s Report into Asylum Detained Fast Track System
Today, the Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency published a report into the Detained Fast Track System. Commenting Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said:
"This is a constructive report. It underlines the value and effectiveness of the Fast Track system. Some improvements are of course necessary but the system is absolutely vital to the credibility of the asylum system, and especially the credibility of the genuine refugees."
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The Latest Net Migration Figures
The latest net migration figure (to June 2011) is 250,000. Commenting, Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said:
"These figures are disappointing. They show that the immigration super tanker has been brought to a halt but massive efforts by the government will be essential if their manifesto promise is to be kept. For example, the student visa system, which admits half a million non-EU students a year, needs a much more effective means of testing whether the applicants are genuine and intend to return home."
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Two Thirds of Births in London are to a Foreign Born Parent
Today it was revealed, in response to a parliamentary question from the Rt. Hon. Nicholas Soames MP, Co-Chairman of the Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration, that in 2010 two thirds of all births in London are to parents where one or both are foreign born. This rises to 84% in Newham and 81% in Westminster. The figure is below 50% in only six of the 32 London boroughs. Commenting, Sir Andrew Green said:
"These extraordinary figures illustrate the huge and rapid change that is taking place in our capital city. They illustrate the way in which London is being changed beyond recognition and on a scale and at a speed that makes successful integration so much more difficult. It is a stark reminder to the government to stick to their promise to get net migration down to the tens of thousands by the end of this Parliament."
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Response to the Institute of Directors on Student Immigration Reforms
In response to the statement issued by the Institute of Directors on the student visa reforms Sir Andrew Green commented:
“The Institute of Directors' statement is deeply misleading and self serving with an arrogant disregard not only for public opinion generally but also for the 20% of recent British graduates who are still unemployed.
It is particularly absurd to talk about foreign students being “ignominiously ejected” from the UK. Half a million students from outside the European Union come here every year and must be expected to leave at the end of their studies – otherwise the student route would become a backdoor to Britain. Last year 40,000 stayed on; the independent Migration Advisory Committee described the current scheme as "probably one of the most generous schemes of its type in the world". The new arrangements are intended to reduce this number by focusing on those who are really valuable to employers. If the “highly skilled MBAs” referred to by the IoD cannot secure a salary of £20,000 a year they cannot be as vital as is implied. Some employers may want cheap labour but British graduates need jobs”.
Footnote:
The immigration policy changes will decrease export earnings by only around 1% per annum according to the Department for Business, Industry and Skills (BIS). They estimate that the changes in student immigration policy will decrease export earnings by around £203 million in 2014/14 and £268 million by 2024/5. The total value of UK education exports is estimated at £17.6 billion in 2015 and £26.6 billion by 2005.
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Response to Home Office Statement on Student Visas
Today the Home Office issued a statement on planned changes to the student immigration route to which Universities UK responded.
Commenting, Sir Andrew Green said:
"With 20% of recent British graduates unemployed it beggars belief that Universities UK want still more foreign graduates to be able to stay on and work. These new regulations need further tightening, not loosening."
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ONS Population Projections
Today, the ONS released further population projections based on varying net migration estimates.
Commenting, Sir Andrew Green said:
"These latest official projections underline the huge importance of the government keeping to its promise to get net migration down below 100,000. Even at 100,000 these figures show that our population will reach 70 million in less than 25 years with all the consequences that has for our overcrowded island."
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