A useful guide on how to talk about immigration.

Author/Source : British Future  http://www.britishfuture.org/articles/how-to-talk-about-immigration/.

British Future has published a useful guide on how to talk about immigration.

FAQ

Updated answers to the most frequently asked questions here with links to some excellent articles, reports and forums.  Topics covered include:

• UK's immigration rules, including the MM case impacting spouses/partners, 
• UK's immigration rules for Adult Dependant Relatives
• EU treaty rights
• Surinder Singh - special application of EU treaty rights for home state

Strong economy responsible for rise in net migration

Home Secretary, Theresa May, says the rise in net migration in the year preceding June 2013 was the result of the strength of the UK economy.

Although immigration to the UK fell, fewer people left, resulting in an unexpected increase in net migration despite government pledges to reduce it to below 100,000 by the next election.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal net migration rose to 182,000 in the year to June 2013, an increase of 15,000 from the previous year.

Although immigration to the UK fell by 14,000 compared with the previous year, 29,000 fewer people left the UK than in the previous year, bringing emigration levels to their lowest since 2001.

Theresa May attributed the reduction in emigration to Britain’s economic growth, which surpassed that of southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy. Migrants from these nations made up the biggest rise in immigration.

In contrast, migrants from outside the EU made up the most significant drop in immigration, by around 40,000 from the previous year.

The rise in net migration follows the government’s promise to reduce it to the “tens of thousands” by the end of this parliament.

Following the release of the figures, the home secretary put forward tactics to “regain control” of immigration in an exclusive piece for Politics Home.

In outlining government strategy to achieve this, Theresa May revealed plans to address the pull factors for immigration and to renegotiate the terms of free movement, while she suggested new member states reach a certain level of economic output per head or income before full free movement is permitted.

However, she remarked that an “overwhelming incentive” for migrants to move from poorer to richer countries would remain as long as there is disparity between the earnings of EU states. 

Furthermore, David Cameron announced measures to limit EU migrants’ access to benefits. The welfare restrictions will prevent new migrants from getting job-seekers’ benefits for their first three months in the UK and see benefits terminated after a period of six months unless the migrant has a genuine chance of getting a job. 

“Theresa May has boasted repeatedly that net migration was falling and her target would be met. Now those hollow claims have been completely exposed," said Labour MP David Hanson, shadow immigration minister in speaking of the rise.

Net migration is the difference between the number of people immigrating to the UK and those emigrating. The government has little control over EU migration and emigration from the UK.

Scotland’s liberal approach to immigration

Scotland would move away from Westminster’s aggressive approach to immigration if it gains independence says an independence white paper.

Details of an independent Scotland’s immigration policies were published by the Scottish National Party yesterday as part of a white paper on Scotland’s future. 

With independence, Scotland will create a system that better reflects the country’s migration needs, which are different to those other parts of the UK, says the paper.

This new approach to immigration is in line with the country’s economic rationale for population growth.

“We plan to lower the current financial maintenance thresholds and minimum salary levels for entry, to better align them with Scottish average wages and cost of living,” says the paper with regards to non-EU migration.

The current entry requirements for non-EU nationals are the same for migration to all parts of the UK despite regional variations in earnings.

In the event of independence, Scotland plans to remain part of the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland, which would remove the need for border checks between England and Scotland.

“As a full member of the EU, Scottish borders will remain open to EU nationals exercising their treaty rights,” says the paper.

“Migrants have played an important part throughout Scottish history in enriching and renewing our culture and boosting the economy of the country. We will welcome people who want to come to work and live in Scotland,” it adds.

Other Home Affairs’ policies laid out in the paper include a points-based system for skilled workers, post-study work visas for foreign graduates of Scottish universities, a humane approach to refugees and asylum seekers, and an inclusive approach to citizenship.

The referendum for Scottish independence is scheduled for 18 September 2014. 

Scotland’s Future:Your Guide to an Independent Scotland

Family migrants impact positively on public finances

A research paper on recent immigration to the UK has found migrants make a positive financial contribution to the UK economy, rendering the government’s target to reduce net migration useless. 

The study, produced by academics at University College London using official government data, claims migrants made a net contribution of GBP 25bn from 2001 to 2011.

Furthermore, it says migrants are less likely to use social housing or to claim social benefits than people who are already resident in the UK, and they are better educated, with nearly 40 per cent of non-EEA nationals who come to the UK holding a degree compared with just over 20 per cent of UK natives.

While EEA nationals have made the largest financial contribution according to the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM) paper, paying more than 30 per cent more in taxes than received in benefits over the course of the 10 years, non-EEA nationals paid around two per cent more than they received, equating to a net contribution of close to 3bn.

Recent immigrants were 45 per cent less likely to receive social benefits than British natives but just three per cent less likely to make use of social housing.

The remarkable findings in Professor Christian Dustmann and Dr Tommaso Frattini’s report complement those of another recently published discussion paper by Professor John Salt and Dr Janet Dobson, also from CReAM.

The paper, which looks at the government’s progress in reducing net migration, says the government’s aim to cut net migration to the ‘tens of thousands’ by 2015 is, “neither a useful tool nor a measure of policy effectiveness”.

"It is not clear what happens next – where further cuts would come from, what policies would be needed to maintain a net inflow below 100,000 or what happens if an improving economy requires more skilled labour," adds the paper.

In striving to reduce net migration, the government has almost exclusively targeted non-EEA nationals, in particular highly skilled migrants, students and family members of British nationals - separate groups which are often lumped together under the label: ‘immigrants’.

As part of its aim to slash net migration, the government ushered in amended family migration rules in July 2012. The rules stipulate that a British national who wishes to bring a non-EEA spouse to the UK must have an annual income of at least GBP 18,600, or more to sponsor each non-EEA child.

One of the primary goals of the rules is to reduce the burden on the taxpayer, with this economic issue probably the most significant in the current immigration debate. Despite the fact family migrants have no recourse to public funds during their initial five-year probationary period, they are often portrayed as arriving for the sole purpose of abusing the social benefits and health systems, which in turn has fueled public demand for further restrictions on immigration.

Yet the recently published CReAM papers suggest the aim of the rules to protect the public purse is not embedded in evidence.

While we are unlikely to see the government accepting the analysis that migrants are in fact not a drain on the economy but rather substantial contributors, this monumental shifting of the goal posts in the debate may eventually serves to shape future family migration policy and to end the scapegoating of family migrants by the government.

Yet family migrants, partly due to their unique relationship with British nationals, should not be looked at purely in terms of economic productivity. Their worth, and their very humanity, stretches far beyond simply their economic contribution, with many family migrants not just spouses or partners to UK nationals, but mothers and fathers to British children - the UK’s future taxpayers.

TheFiscal Effects of Immigration to the UK

Scotland’s future approach to migration

As next year’s referendum approaches and tensions between the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ camps increase, the need for greater details on an independent Scotland’s policies is apparent.

One of the most hotly debated issues surrounding independence is immigration. Holyrood has for some time now been at odds with Westminster regards the latter’s seemingly relentless push to reduce net migration at whatever cost.

Caught up in this push are many cross-border families who are unable to meet the UK government’s stringent new family migration policies, which require the British sponsor to have an income of at least GBP 18,600 per annum to be able to bring a non-EEA spouse, child or adult dependant to the UK.

Such families will be among those keen to read further details of an independent Scottish government’s immigration policies, which are scheduled to be published in a November white paper on migration.

Early indications show homegrown Scottish immigration policies are likely to be more favourable to family migrants than Westminster’s current rules. Unlike Westminster, the Scottish National Party favours immigration.

Add to this Scotland has a low birthrate and a small population of just over five million, and it is easy to see why Scotland’s demographics have placed it at odds with Westminster’s goal to reduce net migration.

The rejection of the anti-immigrant message coming out of Westminster by the Scots, as seen in the unwelcoming reception UKIP leader Nigel Farage received when he traveled to Edinburgh earlier this year, can be seen as demonstrative of their acknowledgement of the need for migrants in Scotland. 

Encouraging are the recent words of spokesman for Minister for External Affairs and International Development Humza Yousaf in a letter to the Clark family after Turkish national Jilda Clark was refused entry to the UK on the grounds she failed to provide sufficient evidence she could meet the spouse visa language requirements – a decision which was later overturned.

The letter stated Yousaf shared, “… anxieties over the UK's current family migration rules". Senior Policy Adviser to the Scottish government Ruth Steele also wrote to the family, stating, "The Scottish government is very concerned that the UK government's restrictions on family migration are having a very damaging impact on many ordinary, hard-working UK citizens and their families”, as reported by the Herald Scotland.

Should we see an independent Scotland, it is hoped it will be defined by fair immigration policies which best suit Scotland’s unique needs and that those policies will be less shortsighted and more evidential-based than the current rules, which are tailored almost exclusively to meet the immigration goals of Westminster rather than Scotland.