Foreign worker limits set to stay
Tuesday, 30 October 2007 12:00 AM
The government has said restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers coming to the UK will remain.
The announcement comes as the government comes under pressure over the scale of migrant labour, but immigration minister Liam Byrne insists the decision was taken at yesterday's Cabinet meeting.
Under the restrictions, only 20,000 low skilled migrants from Romania and Bulgaria will be able to seek work in agriculture and food processing. The quota will not affect migrants who are self-employment, seeking part-time work or coming here to study.
Mr Byrne said the limits will remain for at least another year and could remain in place until 2011.
The restrictions were imposed earlier this year amid concerns migrant workers from the eastern European countries would flock to the UK after they were admitted to the UK.
Immigrant numbers after previous EU expansions vastly exceeded government estimates, placing political pressure on ministers.
Shadow immigration minister Damien Green argued it was not sufficient to extend the existing limited arrangement.
Mr Green said: "Liam Byrne needs to realise however, that, unless he adopts our policy of having transitional restrictions on immigrants from future EU countries and introduces an annual explicit limit on migration from outside the EU, this measure amounts to nothing more than a sticking plaster, trying to mend an immigration system that still remains 'not fit for purpose'."
Mr Byrnes announcement comes as the Conservatives pile renewed pressure on the government over the number of foreign workers.
Last night the government admitted the number of foreign migrants working in the UK since 1997 was 1.1 million since 1997 - 300,000 more than ministers claimed on October 11.
Mr Hain rapidly apologised for the error and insisted the previous figure of 800,000 was circulated in good faith.
Employment minister Caroline Flint and home secretary Jacqui Smith were also swift to apologise.
Nevertheless shadow home secretary David Davis asked why the work and pensions secretary revealed the error when MPs are not sitting.
Mr Davis has written to Mr Hain asking him to confirm when the error first came to light.
He writes: " I would be grateful if you could confirm when you became aware that the figure you released in October was inaccurate, given your decision to revise this glaring error at a time when the House of Commons is not sitting because of prorogation."
Meanwhile, the government has claimed immigration officers will have new powers to protect the border after the UK Borders bill was among those given Royal assent today.
It introduces compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals from next year as well as automatic consideration for deportation for all foreign prisoners. Mr Byrne said it would also shut down the illegal jobs that encourage illegal immigration.
The Liberal Democrats have attempted to distance themselves from the growing immigration spat between Labour and the Conservatives.
Acting leader Vince Cable accused Mr Brown and Mr Cameron of creating "population hysteria"
Mr Cable said: "Labour's credibility on immigration has been completely undermined by its administrative incompetence as shown by the latest debacle over the number foreign workers in the country.
"The Conservatives are also playing on public concerns, promising to cut net immigration whilst somehow avoiding breaking EU rules or damaging British industries and academic institutions."
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