Key to Immigration System must be Filling Skills Gap

10.47.00pm GMT Sun 2nd Mar 2008

The key to immigation is whether the economy needs that type of employee

The Government has recently launched the first stage of a new points-based system for migrants from outside the EU. It will initially only apply to highly skilled workers already in the country who want to extend their stay but it will eventually be extended to other workers.

Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne states "The key should not be an arbitrary number of points, but whether the economy needs that type of employee whether skilled or unskilled. The principle should be to fill gaps in the economy, not just prize skills which may or may not be in short supply, as we saw recently with junior doctors. The Government needs to combine better immigration management with a tougher approach to law-breaking employers who take on illegal immigrants".