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| Skilled migrants should 'plug gap', says Lord Dig by Jones | Skilled migrants should 'plug gap', says Lord Dig by Jones |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Skilled migrants should be recruited by the UK government to plug a current shortfall in Wales, an ex-trade minister has said. | Skilled migrants should be recruited by the UK government to plug a current shortfall in Wales, an ex-trade minister has said. |
| Lord Digby Jones said there were not enough skilled workers in Wales and called for the UK's immigration policy to be used to address the issue. | |
| He also criticised the standard of education offered which he said had "failed the people of Britain". | He also criticised the standard of education offered which he said had "failed the people of Britain". |
| The UK and Welsh governments have been contacted for their response. | The UK and Welsh governments have been contacted for their response. |
| Lord Jones spoke out as figures from the Office for National Statistics showed 641,000 people immigrated to the UK in 2014, up from 526,000 in 2013. | Lord Jones spoke out as figures from the Office for National Statistics showed 641,000 people immigrated to the UK in 2014, up from 526,000 in 2013. |
| He told BBC Radio Wales Britain should remain in the European Union if member countries can focus on education and training to arm migrant workers with skills. | He told BBC Radio Wales Britain should remain in the European Union if member countries can focus on education and training to arm migrant workers with skills. |
| "The United Kingdom and, indeed, south Wales particularly, does not have enough skilled people," said the former head of the Confederation of British Industry. | "The United Kingdom and, indeed, south Wales particularly, does not have enough skilled people," said the former head of the Confederation of British Industry. |
| "So the immigration policy of the nation should start there. It should start with the fact we want more and better-skilled people. | "So the immigration policy of the nation should start there. It should start with the fact we want more and better-skilled people. |
| "So regardless of the colour of their skin, regardless of the god they worship, regardless of where they come from in the world... if they've got a skill and a job to go to with a sponsoring employer, frankly, we should say 'you're welcome'." | "So regardless of the colour of their skin, regardless of the god they worship, regardless of where they come from in the world... if they've got a skill and a job to go to with a sponsoring employer, frankly, we should say 'you're welcome'." |
| Lord Jones, a former skills envoy, said the education policies of central and devolved governments have "failed the people of Britain". | Lord Jones, a former skills envoy, said the education policies of central and devolved governments have "failed the people of Britain". |
| "Just under half the people at 16 are coming out of school unable to read, write and count to the standard expected of 11-year-olds," he added. | "Just under half the people at 16 are coming out of school unable to read, write and count to the standard expected of 11-year-olds," he added. |
| "And it knocks on to the fact - if you're going to compete in a global economy you have to win on adding value, being innovative and delivering quality." | "And it knocks on to the fact - if you're going to compete in a global economy you have to win on adding value, being innovative and delivering quality." |