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Forum To Advise On The Social Impacts Of Migration Launched

21 June 2007

A new group of frontline practitioners brought together to advise Government on how migration affects public services and local communities began its work today (Thursday 21 June) in advance of the new points based system for migrants to be introduced in the new year.

The Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) will bring together experts from local government, health, education, the police and criminal justice system, the voluntary sector, the CBI and TUC to discuss with Ministers the wider social impacts of migration. Ministers will take the MIF’s evidence into account when they decide where to set the ‘hurdle’ that migrants need to cross to work or study in the UK.

Chaired jointly by Immigration Minister Liam Byrne and Communities Minister Phil Woolas the MIF will meet for the first time this morning.

The MIF will help collect evidence on how migration affects issues such as housing, employment, education, health and social care, crime and disorder and community cohesion. It will:

consider information about the social benefits of migration and any transitional impacts and requirements;
identify and share good practice in managing transitional or adjustment requirements;
bring together existing evidence about the impacts of migration; and
suggest areas for Government research on the impacts of migration.

Supporting the launch of the MIF, the Home Secretary John Reid, said:

"People recognise that immigration can bring great skills to the UK, but they also want to be assured that our services, whether it's schools or hospitals will be preserved and that the system will be managed.

"The MIF will enable us to listen to independent views and help us have a mature discussion. It will demonstrate that we are listening to people's concerns about immigration."

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said:

“We are raising to a new level our efforts to promote community cohesion and integration, while continuing to recognise the economic benefits migration brings.

"The Commission on Integration and Cohesion’s recent report suggested practical local solutions that I am sure this forum will want to discuss in more detail.

“Local areas face very different challenges as a result of migration. We need to examine how we ensure stronger local leadership as well as give better support from central Government to help communities manage the challenges."

Mr Byrne said:

"Our countdown to a UK points system for migrants has started, and next year we will start counting people in and out of Britain.

"When we set the bar that migrants need to cross we won’t just listen to business. Today we deliver our promise to systematically listen to other voices before we set immigration policy. Immigration policy must be set in Britain’s national interest – not based on the needs of any one group in particular.

"We are creating the machinery for a much more open debate about where we need migration and where we don't but based on evidence, not anecdote. It is important that we involve and understand the experience of people from the frontline - from local authorities, the health sector and businesses.

"To have a proper debate we need proper evidence. That's what the Forum will give us."

Mr Woolas added:

"The benefits of immigration for Britain are manifold: migrants to the UK have transformed our economy; they provide vital staff in our public services and they greatly enrich our cultural life.

“The MIF will provide regular opportunities for Ministers to hear first hand about the impacts of migration on local services and communities. But this is not about setting up a talking shop. The forum will deliver practical evidence around what works to manage the impact. By highlighting the best practice already carried out by so many local services throughout the country, we will be in a strong position to help other areas to respond to change."

Working alongside the MIF will be the new Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which will be made up of a team of independent experts to advise Government on where in the economy there are shortages that could sensibly be filled by migration.

The MIF and the MAC were established after the results of a public consultation last year showed overwhelming support for a body to look at both the wider impacts of migration and where migration might sensibly fill gaps in the labour market.

Notes to Editors:

1. The 14 members of the MIF are:

Grahame Maxwell, Chief Constable North Yorkshire Police;
Neil Carberry, Senior Policy Adviser, CBI;
John Thornhill, Deputy Chairman of the Magistrates Association Liverpool;
Janet Tomlinson, Director of Education & Children's Services Slough Borough Council (will become DCS at Oxfordshire County Council from 25 June 2007);
Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council;
John Ransford, Deputy Chief Executive of the Local Government Association;
Rodney Green, Chief Executive of Leicester City Council;
Mike Farrer, Chief Executive - North West Strategic Health Authority;
Joanne Roney, Executive Director Neighbourhoods & Community Care Directorate at Sheffield City Council;
Shaks Ghosh, Board Director of the Sector Skills Development Authority;
Owen Tudor, Head of TUC European Union and International Relations Department;
Rory Mair, Chief Executive COSLA;
Brian Hackland, Regional Director, Government Office for the East of England; and
Bill Wells, head of DWP’s Economy and Labour Market Division.

2. The Migration Impacts Forum will look at the effect migration has had on a range of issues, including the following:

Housing;
Education;
Health and Social Care;
Crime and Disorder; and
Community Cohesion

3. The responses to the Migration Advisory Committee consultation, together with the terms of reference for the new body can be found at: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandpolicy/consultationdocuments/closedconsultations (new window)

4. The Migration Advisory Committee will have a chair and a membership of independent experts with expertise in the labour market and economy to provide Government with independent advice on where migration is needed, including the development and delivery of a shortage occupation list. The positions for the chair and the members are currently being advertised.

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