Jon Simmons
Head of Migration and Border Analysis,
Home Office, United Kingdom
Presentation to
International Metropolis Conference,
Tampere, Finland
10th-13th September 2013
Overview
1. The background to current debates in the UK
and what may make the UK different
2. The policies introduced by the Coalition
Government to refocus migration policy and
their impacts
3. Some initial comments on the nature of
public debate on migration in the UK
The growth of migration in the UK has been
unprecedented over the past decade and a half
Net Long-Term International Migration (thousands)
300
Modelled
LTIM
IPS
250
200
150
100
50
0
-50
-100
-150
2010
2006
2002
1998
1994
1990
1986
1982
1978
1974
1970
1966
1962
1958
1954
1950
1946
1942
1938
1934
1930
1926
1922
-200
Source: House of Commons Library
The nature of migration in the UK has been changing
• Post-colonial chain migration has always been important
• Work grew prior to the recession (especially for EU migrants)
but was not the dominant reason for migration
• Asylum applications peaked in the early 2000s, but have since
fallen significantly
• Very strong growth in migration for study
Long-term
International
Migrant
All reasons
TOTAL
Work Related
All
Definite
job
('000s)
Looking
for work
Accompany /
Formal
Other
Join
study
(including
Asylum)
INFLOW
YE Dec 2002
516
176
109
67
65
122
125
YE Dec 2007
574
242
171
71
85
148
65
YE Dec 2012
497
179
112
67
61
180
43
Change 2002-12
-4%
2%
3%
0%
-6%
48%
-66%
Source: Office for National Statistics
What makes the UK different?
• High levels of migration historically, and compared to
other EU
• High net migration, compared to other EU
• Less work migration and asylum than many countries
• Very high levels of study migration (2nd only to USA)
• Plentiful supply of low-skilled migrants from the EU
• High and rising fertility rates
• Strong diversity and a tradition of welcoming other
cultures
• Lack of widespread support for extremist political
parties
Still the British public hold strong views on migration
Source: British Social Attitudes Survey 29
• ‘Small Island’ (Ashcroft poll) – six in ten thought immigration had produced
more disadvantages than advantages for the country as a whole
• ‘Transatlantic Trends’ (Marshall Plan poll) - 68% in UK thought immigration
more of a problem than an opportunity (vs 43% in Germany)
Prime Minister David Cameron:
“I’ve always had a clear view about immigration. I believe that
immigration has brought significant benefits to Britain, from Polish
heroes who fought for us during the war to West Indians who helped us
to rebuild afterwards; from those who’ve come to our shores seeking a
safe haven from persecution, to those who’ve come to make a better
life for themselves and their families and, in the process, have enriched
our society by working hard, taking risks and creating jobs and wealth
for the whole country.
Our migrant communities are a fundamental part of who we are and
Britain is a far richer and stronger society because of them... So
many Great Britons today have family histories that have brought them
to these shores.
This is our island story: open, diverse and welcoming, and I am
immensely proud of it.”
–
Speech at University Campus Suffolk, 25th March 2013
The 2010 Coalition Government
• In her first speech on immigration in Nov 2010
the Home Secretary Teresa May said that among
her priorities were:
– To encourage more entrepreneurs and
investors to come to Britain
– Put a stop to abuse of the student route
– Cutting the link between those who come here
temporarily and permanent settlement
• These policies have been introduced, following
wide and deep public consultation
Lower-skilled migrant labour
• The previous Labour Government introduced Points-Based
system but kept Tier 3 closed. There was no route to apply to
come to the UK to work in a low-skilled job, except as a
domestic worker, or as a family member or student.
• But low-skilled workers came. Five sixths of the 1.5 million
growth in employment in the UK between 2002 and 2012 was
accounted for by foreign nationals (two thirds from the EU)
• The Migrant workforce is not divorced from the rest of the
labour force. Welfare, training and immigration are linked.
Prime Minister David Cameron :
“we need to educate and train up our youth, not rely
on immigration to fill our skills gaps”
Highly skilled workers
• Prioritise the applicants business wants over those who want
to come but do not have a job
• Enhance standards for sponsored skilled workers language
and salary requirements, make the route primarily temporary
• Listen to business requests for certainty and stability, and
freeze the limit for remainder of this Parliament. Make IntraCompany Transfers (ICTs) exempt from the limit.
• Develop a visa system that is efficient and quick in comparison
to other countries, and which will continue to improve.
Prime Minister David Cameron –
“Not one business request has been rejected because of the
limit, and not one scientist or engineer has been turned
down for lack of space”
Entrepreneurs, Investors and people
with exceptional talent
• New scheme to back foreign investors and entrepreneurs
• New Graduate Entrepreneurs route with 1,000 extra places
for MBA graduates who want to try out innovative business
ideas
• For the most successful High Value Migrants we offer an
accelerated path to settlement
• Special scheme for recognised leaders in the fields of science,
engineering, humanities and the arts = 1,000 places per
annum
Student migrants
David Cameron (February 2013) “After you have left a
British university, if you can get a graduate-level job there
is no limit to the amount of people who can stay and
work.”
No limit on students. Numbers from outside EU coming to UK
Universities still growing. – up 4%
PhD students are now allowed to remain in the UK for 12 months to
find skilled work or set up as an entrepreneur
Student visas number fell sharply due to the crackdown on
immigration system abuse, particularly in the further education
sector.
Language school students now have access to a new short-term
student visitor visa, and these numbers have been growing.
The aim is to bring in the brightest and
the best
• Sponsored visa applications for skilled non-EEA workers were
up 7% in Year-Ending June 2013.
• Sectors with strong growth included Information and
Communication Technology up 6% and Education up 48%.
• Non-EU applications to study at UK Universities are up 4%
• Visas for Youth Mobility and temporary workers were up 5%
with the majority of growth in the arts and entertainment
sector
– Long-term Immigration is down to 497,000, a similar level as in 2002
– Net migration, is now +176,000 , 31% lower than the recent peak in
September 2010
How should we talk about migration?
• The issue is not whether migration is good or bad.
• It is not ‘no borders’ vs ‘no migrants’.
• Migration is not a philosophical or theoretical matter.
• However, evidence is often equivocal and unclear at best.
• There is room for debate over practical questions like
how much migration, what kind of migration, how can it
best be managed, how can we ensure migrants succeed?
• It is a question of consequences, for migrants
themselves, but also for their receiving communities &
those they leave behind.
How can we talk to the public?
• Recognise that the public support migration where it
meets a clear need but there are genuine concerns over
perceived and real inequalities in the labour market and
in relation to access to public services
• And the public demand ‘fairness’ – an immigration
process that works effectively, where people abide by the
law and do not bring the system into disrepute
• Fundamentally, if we are to build public confidence we
need to give the public confidence that the system works
End