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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| Reid outlines new EU work curbs | Reid outlines new EU work curbs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Limits on Bulgarians' and Romanians' right to work in the UK have been unveiled by Home Secretary John Reid. | Limits on Bulgarians' and Romanians' right to work in the UK have been unveiled by Home Secretary John Reid. |
| The only unskilled working allowed will be in food processing and agriculture. | The only unskilled working allowed will be in food processing and agriculture. |
| The countries join the EU in January and Mr Reid is keen to avoid the large influx seen from the eight ex-communist states which joined the EU in 2004. | The countries join the EU in January and Mr Reid is keen to avoid the large influx seen from the eight ex-communist states which joined the EU in 2004. |
| EU rules mean Romanians and Bulgarians will be free to live in the UK, and to take any job if self-employed. Critics say the plans are unworkable. | EU rules mean Romanians and Bulgarians will be free to live in the UK, and to take any job if self-employed. Critics say the plans are unworkable. |
| The curbs contrast with the "open-door" policy when the eight former communist states joined in 2004. | The curbs contrast with the "open-door" policy when the eight former communist states joined in 2004. |
| WHO CAN WORK IN UK? Anyone self-employedHighly skilled migrantsSkilled migrants with work permitsStudentsFood and agriculture workers Q&A: UK and new EU states href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6081042.stm" class="">John Reid's statement | |
| At that time the Home Office expected about 15,000 migrant workers a year - but 600,000 arrived in two years. | At that time the Home Office expected about 15,000 migrant workers a year - but 600,000 arrived in two years. |
| In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Reid said the open-door policy had been a success because migrant workers had filled skills gaps. | In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Reid said the open-door policy had been a success because migrant workers had filled skills gaps. |
| But he acknowledged some schools had had to cope with a "significant rise" in pupils, while some councils had reported overcrowding in private housing. | But he acknowledged some schools had had to cope with a "significant rise" in pupils, while some councils had reported overcrowding in private housing. |
| 'Loophole' | 'Loophole' |
| The policy for Bulgaria and Romania is to be reviewed annually, with ministers saying they will listen to industries if they feel they need more manual workers. | The policy for Bulgaria and Romania is to be reviewed annually, with ministers saying they will listen to industries if they feel they need more manual workers. |
| As part of the changes, from January, all low-skilled migration schemes for non-EU workers will be phased out. | As part of the changes, from January, all low-skilled migration schemes for non-EU workers will be phased out. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis described the fact that anyone from Romania and Bulgaria can work in the UK if they are self-employed as a "big loophole". | Shadow home secretary David Davis described the fact that anyone from Romania and Bulgaria can work in the UK if they are self-employed as a "big loophole". |
| It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept for Bulgaria Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva Leaving Bulgaria for UK? Romania to lose workers | It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept for Bulgaria Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva Leaving Bulgaria for UK? Romania to lose workers |
| He also raised concern about the possibility of people working in the "black economy" and not paying tax. And there was no way of stopping "undesirables" living in the UK. | He also raised concern about the possibility of people working in the "black economy" and not paying tax. And there was no way of stopping "undesirables" living in the UK. |
| Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said a transitional arrangement was appropriate but there were "real concerns about how this will work in practice". | Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said a transitional arrangement was appropriate but there were "real concerns about how this will work in practice". |
| Lobby group Migrationwatch welcomed the restrictions, with chairman Sir Andrew Green saying: "This is not a U-turn but it is a turning point." | Lobby group Migrationwatch welcomed the restrictions, with chairman Sir Andrew Green saying: "This is not a U-turn but it is a turning point." |
| He added that the curbs were a "tiny step forward". | He added that the curbs were a "tiny step forward". |
| Ex-Labour minister Frank Field, said he thought the restrictions did not go far enough. | Ex-Labour minister Frank Field, said he thought the restrictions did not go far enough. |
| "Within a 16-month period something like 600,000 Poles, for example, come to this country and in total we get new arrivals of 1.3m people," he said. | "Within a 16-month period something like 600,000 Poles, for example, come to this country and in total we get new arrivals of 1.3m people," he said. |
| "In the long run those numbers are not sustainable. And the government is slowly moving to a new position." | "In the long run those numbers are not sustainable. And the government is slowly moving to a new position." |
| Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva predicted on BBC News 24 that about 36,000 people would want to move to Britain from Bulgaria. | Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva predicted on BBC News 24 that about 36,000 people would want to move to Britain from Bulgaria. |
| She called the UK's previous policy "very brave and very right", adding: "It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]". | She called the UK's previous policy "very brave and very right", adding: "It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]". |
| But Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said the restrictions were "more generous" than they had been expecting. | But Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said the restrictions were "more generous" than they had been expecting. |