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Bill aiming to curb illegal immigration to be published May: Living in UK to get tougher for illegal immigrants
(35 minutes later)
New legislation aiming to make it harder for illegal immigrants to settle in the UK is due to be published. Home Secretary Theresa May says illegal immigrants will find it much harder to set up home in the UK under new laws.
The Immigration Bill will require banks to check the immigration status of people applying to open accounts, and private landlords to make similar checks on their tenants.The Immigration Bill will require banks to check the immigration status of people applying to open accounts, and private landlords to make similar checks on their tenants.
It also aims to streamline the appeals process in immigration cases.It also aims to streamline the appeals process in immigration cases.
Labour said the bill would not "address some of the biggest problems" in the immigration area.Labour said the bill would not "address some of the biggest problems" in the immigration area.
As announced at the Conservative Party conference, the bill will include measures aiming to "deport foreign criminals first and hear their appeal later" when there is "no risk of serious irreversible harm".As announced at the Conservative Party conference, the bill will include measures aiming to "deport foreign criminals first and hear their appeal later" when there is "no risk of serious irreversible harm".
A requirement will also be included for temporary migrants such as overseas students to make a contribution to the National Health Service.A requirement will also be included for temporary migrants such as overseas students to make a contribution to the National Health Service.
Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: "The Immigration Bill will stop migrants using public services to which they are not entitled, reduce the pull factors which encourage people to come to the UK and make it easier to remove people who should not be here.Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: "The Immigration Bill will stop migrants using public services to which they are not entitled, reduce the pull factors which encourage people to come to the UK and make it easier to remove people who should not be here.
"We will continue to welcome the brightest and best migrants who want to contribute to our economy and society and play by the rules. But the law must be on the side of people who respect it, not those who break it.""We will continue to welcome the brightest and best migrants who want to contribute to our economy and society and play by the rules. But the law must be on the side of people who respect it, not those who break it."
New powers to check driving licence applicants' immigration status will also be introduced.New powers to check driving licence applicants' immigration status will also be introduced.
Labour's shadow immigration minister David Hanson said: "The Tories are still failing on immigration and this Bill won't address some of the biggest problems.Labour's shadow immigration minister David Hanson said: "The Tories are still failing on immigration and this Bill won't address some of the biggest problems.
'Long delays''Long delays'
"The number of foreign criminals deported has dropped by over 13% since the election, border checks have been cut with only half as many people stopped and illegal immigration has got worse."The number of foreign criminals deported has dropped by over 13% since the election, border checks have been cut with only half as many people stopped and illegal immigration has got worse.
"Yet there seems to be nothing in the promised Bill to tackle problems at border control, which is getting increasingly shambolic, nor deal with long delays in getting electronic checks in place, or the UKBA [UK Border Agency] bureaucratic failings that have prevented foreign criminals being deported."Yet there seems to be nothing in the promised Bill to tackle problems at border control, which is getting increasingly shambolic, nor deal with long delays in getting electronic checks in place, or the UKBA [UK Border Agency] bureaucratic failings that have prevented foreign criminals being deported.
"Nor are they tackling exploitation in the labour market... For example the Bill is an opportunity to tackle problems such as enforcement of the minimum wage which would respond to concerns about the impact of EU migration.""Nor are they tackling exploitation in the labour market... For example the Bill is an opportunity to tackle problems such as enforcement of the minimum wage which would respond to concerns about the impact of EU migration."
Don Flynn, director of Migrants' Rights Network, said evidence contradicts the view that immigrants are attracted to the UK by free services.Don Flynn, director of Migrants' Rights Network, said evidence contradicts the view that immigrants are attracted to the UK by free services.
He added: "There are very small numbers of migrants who come here with pre-existing health conditions and find themselves registering with the health service.He added: "There are very small numbers of migrants who come here with pre-existing health conditions and find themselves registering with the health service.
"I simply do not believe there is any significant evidence that something like the NHS is a pull factor.""I simply do not believe there is any significant evidence that something like the NHS is a pull factor."
The British Medical Association (BMA) is also critical of the plans.The British Medical Association (BMA) is also critical of the plans.
Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, told BBC Radio 5 live there is already a system in place for hospitals to recover the cost of treating patients who are ineligible for NHS care.Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, told BBC Radio 5 live there is already a system in place for hospitals to recover the cost of treating patients who are ineligible for NHS care.
"Clearly that could be improved, but introducing a system for general practice could be a bureaucratic nightmare," he said."Clearly that could be improved, but introducing a system for general practice could be a bureaucratic nightmare," he said.
"The reality is people don't come to the UK to use the NHS, they're more likely to come to work in the NHS.""The reality is people don't come to the UK to use the NHS, they're more likely to come to work in the NHS."
The Conservatives say they want to reduce the net migration figure from non-EU countries to less than 100,000 a year.The Conservatives say they want to reduce the net migration figure from non-EU countries to less than 100,000 a year.
But the latest ONS figures show net migration rose to 176,000 in the year ending December 2012 - up from 153,000 people in the year to September 2012 - appearing to buck the recent downward trend.But the latest ONS figures show net migration rose to 176,000 in the year ending December 2012 - up from 153,000 people in the year to September 2012 - appearing to buck the recent downward trend.