Immigration Cap

HC 361, First Report of Session 2010-11 - Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:: House of Commons - Home Affairs Committee
Publisher:: TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £17.50

'Immigration Cap (HC 361)' outlines the Government's intention to place an immigration cap on non-European Economic Area (EEA) migrants to the UK. This is currently controlled through the points based system (PBS) under which those wishing to work or study in the UK must gain points for certain attributes in order to qualify for entry.

The PBS consists of five tiers:

Tier 1: Highly-skilled migrants

Tier 2: Skilled workers with a job offer

Tier 3: Low skilled workers (indefinitely suspended)

Tier 4: Students

Tier 5: Temporary Workers and Youth Mobility (primarily non-economic routes).

This report examines:

The impact a cap would have on the ability of UK business and industries to recruit the skills and staff they require.
Numbers of skilled and non-skilled migrants likely to be affected by a cap on Tiers 1 and 2.
The impact and effectiveness of a 'first come, first served' or a pool system for highly skilled migrants under Tier 1, and of a 'first come, first served', a pool, or an auction, system for skilled migrants under Tier 2.
Whether and how intra-company transfers should be included in a cap.
Implications of merging the Resident Labour Market Test and Shortage Occupation Lists.
Whether dependents should be included in the cap and the effect of including them.

Overall, the Committee believes a cap would make little difference to immigration unless it was set at virtually zero. There is a risk that a permanent cap could hamper businesses, prevent top-class international professionals from coming to the UK and damage the UK's ability to recruit the most distinguished scientists into universities.

Extent	130 pages	ISBN	9780215555137
Size	A4	Price	£17.50
Format	Paperback	Published	03 Nov 2010
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges