UK brings in £50 visa 'surcharge'
People from outside the EU moving to the UK to work or study will have
to pay £50 extra for visas to help areas struggling to cope with
immigration.
The £70m raised by the two-year scheme, announced by Communities
Secretary Hazel Blears, will help fund more police support and
translators.
(thats 700,000 per annum??? or 1.400,000 million over 2 years coming to UK. GOVT MUST BE INSANE SORREE ARE INSANE)
Many councils have warned of the strain that new arrivals have put on
services.
But critics say the cash will not have much effect and also warn that
the move could stir anti-immigrant sentiments.
Ms Blears said it meant people coming to the UK to work or study would
pay a levy on top of the basic cost of a visa.
“ Where there are impacts as a result of migrants coming in on the local
community, we think it's fair that the migrants themselves should be
asked to pay a contribution towards those impacts ”
Hazel Blears
Communities Secretary
She acknowledged that economic migrants already contributed to services
through their taxes, but said the visa fund would provide extra money to
"ease the transition" for areas which had seen a big influx in short
periods of time.
"Where there are impacts as a result of migrants coming in on the local
community, we think it's fair that the migrants themselves should be
asked to pay a contribution towards those impacts to make sure that
local people don't feel that they're really under strain," she said.
Ms Blears said the money would be allocated on a regional basis and that
local councils, police forces and health authorities would be expected
to work together to spend the funds for their area wisely.
One example was making sure people registered with their GP, to stop
them using casualty departments for minor health issues.
Pressures
The exact charge has not been confirmed but the department says it is
expected to be about £50.
Initially it will be charged for two years only, as it is aimed at
contributing towards the start-up costs of schemes which are expected to
become "self sustaining".
These could include joint translation services for public authorities
like the police and NHS bodies - which might currently be offering
individual translation.
“ The vast majority of voters, including new citizens, actually want
restrictions ”
Frank Field
Labour former minister
Rob Anderson, leader of the council in Slough - which has seen a large
increase in migrants from the new EU countries - told the BBC: "It's a
start, I don't think it can be the only thing that's done to try and
help local authorities in the same position we are. We know the
pressures that we are facing."
As unemployment rises and job vacancies fall, there are mounting
concerns that migrants could become targets for social unrest.
Local authorities have said they need £250m extra to cope with migrant
populations and helping them integrate.
Points-based immigration
Labour former minister Frank Field, who is co-chairman of the cross-
party group on balanced migration, said most people wanted to see fewer
migrants coming to Britain in the first place.
HAVE YOUR SAY Such a small charge it is not going to pay for the extra
administration costs JB, Derby
"The vast majority of voters, including new citizens, actually want
restrictions," he said.
"Why doesn't the government address that issue instead of fiddling
around believing that it can impose a tax which, even if it's
successful, only raises a fraction of the cost of what integrating new
arrivals means?"
Ms Blears said the new points-based system for non-EU immigration would
ensure that only the people with skills the economy needed would come to
the UK.
The Institute for Public Policy Research expressed concerns that the
proposal could ignite anti-immigrant feelings.
Shadow communities and local government secretary, Caroline Spelman,
said: "For a long time councils have been asking for recognition of the
pressures put on local services by uncontrolled immigration, for them
this announcement may well be too little too late.
"Rather than tackling the real pressures on local services I fear this
announcement is designed to get a headline."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7951721.stm
Published: 2009/03/19 10:07:28 GMT
Many councils have warned of the strain that new arrivals have put on
services.
But critics say the cash will not have much effect and also warn that
the move could stir anti-immigrant sentiments.
Ms Blears said it meant people coming to the UK to work or study would
pay a levy on top of the basic cost of a visa.
“ Where there are impacts as a result of migrants coming in on the local
community, we think it's fair that the migrants themselves should be
asked to pay a contribution towards those impacts ”
Hazel Blears
Communities Secretary
She acknowledged that economic migrants already contributed to services
through their taxes, but said the visa fund would provide extra money to
"ease the transition" for areas which had seen a big influx in short
periods of time.
"Where there are impacts as a result of migrants coming in on the local
community, we think it's fair that the migrants themselves should be
asked to pay a contribution towards those impacts to make sure that
local people don't feel that they're really under strain," she said.
Ms Blears said the money would be allocated on a regional basis and that
local councils, police forces and health authorities would be expected
to work together to spend the funds for their area wisely.
One example was making sure people registered with their GP, to stop
them using casualty departments for minor health issues.
Pressures
The exact charge has not been confirmed but the department says it is
expected to be about £50.
Initially it will be charged for two years only, as it is aimed at
contributing towards the start-up costs of schemes which are expected to
become "self sustaining".
These could include joint translation services for public authorities
like the police and NHS bodies - which might currently be offering
individual translation.
“ The vast majority of voters, including new citizens, actually want
restrictions ”
Frank Field
Labour former minister
Rob Anderson, leader of the council in Slough - which has seen a large
increase in migrants from the new EU countries - told the BBC: "It's a
start, I don't think it can be the only thing that's done to try and
help local authorities in the same position we are. We know the
pressures that we are facing."
As unemployment rises and job vacancies fall, there are mounting
concerns that migrants could become targets for social unrest.
Local authorities have said they need £250m extra to cope with migrant
populations and helping them integrate.
Points-based immigration
Labour former minister Frank Field, who is co-chairman of the cross-
party group on balanced migration, said most people wanted to see fewer
migrants coming to Britain in the first place.
HAVE YOUR SAY Such a small charge it is not going to pay for the extra
administration costs JB, Derby
"The vast majority of voters, including new citizens, actually want
restrictions,
"Why doesn't the government address that issue instead of fiddling
around believing that it can impose a tax which, even if it's
successful, only raises a fraction of the cost of what integrating new
arrivals means?"
Ms Blears said the new points-based system for non-EU immigration would
ensure that only the people with skills the economy needed would come to
the UK.
The Institute for Public Policy Research expressed concerns that the
proposal could ignite anti-immigrant feelings.
Shadow communities and local government secretary, Caroline Spelman,
said: "For a long time councils have been asking for recognition of the
pressures put on local services by uncontrolled immigration, for them
this announcement may well be too little too late.
"Rather than tackling the real pressures on local services I fear this
announcement is designed to get a headline."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.
Published: 2009/03/19 10:07:28 GMT
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