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Brexit EU migration study launched by Amber Rudd Brexit: UK-EU freedom of movement 'to end in March 2019'
(about 3 hours later)
The government is commissioning a "detailed assessment" of the costs and benefits of EU migrants as it plans how to manage immigration after Brexit. A new immigration system will be in place by March 2019 when the free movement of EU nationals into the UK ends, ministers say.
A new set of rules is needed for when EU free movement ends in the UK. Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis was speaking as the government commissioned a "detailed assessment" of the costs and benefits of EU migrants.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to study current migration trends and assess the impact of a cut in numbers. The report is due to be completed in September 2018 - six months before the UK's scheduled date for leaving the EU.
She said it would be a "major step in ensuring we create a system that works in the best interests of the country". Critics said the study had been requested a year too late.
The CBI said businesses "urgently" needed to know what this would look like, both in any "transitional" period after March 2019 and beyond. The CBI said businesses "urgently" needed to know what EU migration would look like, both in any "transitional" period after March 2019 and beyond.
And the Liberal Democrats said the study had been commissioned a year too late.
Immigration was one of the central topics of last year's EU referendum campaign, and ministers have promised to "take back control" of the UK's borders as they negotiate Brexit.Immigration was one of the central topics of last year's EU referendum campaign, and ministers have promised to "take back control" of the UK's borders as they negotiate Brexit.
They have also promised to bring total net migration - the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number leaving - from the EU and the rest of the world to below 100,000.
It was 248,000 last year.
An immigration bill, which will reveal the government's chosen method, was included in last month's Queen's Speech.An immigration bill, which will reveal the government's chosen method, was included in last month's Queen's Speech.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Lewis would not confirm details of how the government plans to manage migration after Brexit, saying these would be revealed in a white paper later this year, and that the immigration bill would go through Parliament in 2018.
Ministers have promised an implementation period after Brexit to avoid a "cliff edge" scenario as the new rules kick in.
Mr Lewis said it was a "simple matter of fact" that EU free movement rules would not apply during this time, and that a new system would be in place by Spring 2019.
He was also pressed on the Conservative manifesto pledge to reduce overall net migration - currently 248,000 - to the tens of thousands.
He confirmed this was party policy but would not set an "arbitrary" year by which this would be achieved.
Costs and benefits
The Home Office has asked the advisory committee to consider the regional distribution of EU migration, which sectors are most reliant on it, and the role of temporary and seasonal workers.The Home Office has asked the advisory committee to consider the regional distribution of EU migration, which sectors are most reliant on it, and the role of temporary and seasonal workers.
The committee will also study the "economic and social costs and benefits of EU migration to the UK economy", its impact on competitiveness, and whether there would be benefits to focusing migration on high-skilled jobs.The committee will also study the "economic and social costs and benefits of EU migration to the UK economy", its impact on competitiveness, and whether there would be benefits to focusing migration on high-skilled jobs.
Ms Rudd said: "We will ensure we continue to attract those who benefit us economically, socially and culturally. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "We will ensure we continue to attract those who benefit us economically, socially and culturally.
"But, at the same time, our new immigration system will give us control of the volume of people coming here - giving the public confidence we are applying our own rules on who we want to come to the UK and helping us to bring down net migration to sustainable levels.""But, at the same time, our new immigration system will give us control of the volume of people coming here - giving the public confidence we are applying our own rules on who we want to come to the UK and helping us to bring down net migration to sustainable levels."
She said there would be an "implementation period" when the UK leaves the EU to avoid a "cliff edge" scenario as new rules kick in.
'First step'
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Sir Ed Davey said: "This will do nothing to reassure the hospitals that are already seeing record numbers of EU nurses leaving, or the companies struggling to recruit the staff they need.Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Sir Ed Davey said: "This will do nothing to reassure the hospitals that are already seeing record numbers of EU nurses leaving, or the companies struggling to recruit the staff they need.
"The NHS, businesses and universities that depend on European citizens need answers now, not in another 14 months' time.""The NHS, businesses and universities that depend on European citizens need answers now, not in another 14 months' time."
'First step'
The CBI said commissioning the report was a "sensible first step", adding: "Workers from across Europe strengthen our businesses and help our public services run more smoothly - any new migration system should protect these benefits while restoring public confidence."The CBI said commissioning the report was a "sensible first step", adding: "Workers from across Europe strengthen our businesses and help our public services run more smoothly - any new migration system should protect these benefits while restoring public confidence."
Manufacturers' organisation EEF said the migration committee was "best placed" to advise on what EU migration should look like after Brexit.Manufacturers' organisation EEF said the migration committee was "best placed" to advise on what EU migration should look like after Brexit.
"Many manufacturers will see today's announcement as a first step, with the government for the first time acknowledging that future migration changes will be implemented in a measured way over a period of years," it said."Many manufacturers will see today's announcement as a first step, with the government for the first time acknowledging that future migration changes will be implemented in a measured way over a period of years," it said.
Both EEF and the CBI called for an immediate resolution of the question of the status of EU nationals already living in the UK.Both EEF and the CBI called for an immediate resolution of the question of the status of EU nationals already living in the UK.