Immigration Proposals In Queen’s Speech

Non EEA Immigration Cap

The new Conservative / Liberal Democrat Coalition Government plan to introduce an annual cap on Immigration that will cut the number of migrants coming to the UK each year from ‘hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands’. The Government is currently looking at how a suitable system can be introduced without seriously affecting UK businesses. Any proposals to introduce an annual limit on Non-EU immigration will not require new primary legislation.

National Identity Card Scheme

The National Identity Card Scheme and the next generation of biometric passports will be scrapped altogether. All personal information gathered from existing cardholders which is already in held in the National Identity Register will be destroyed. Existing cardholders will not be able to claim back the £30 spent in order to secure an Identity Card.

The scheme which has already cost millions upon millions of pounds is expected to save £86 million over the next four years in direct costs and £800 million over the next 10 years in costs that were to be recovered through ID Card / Passport fees. The main problem with the cancellation of the scheme is reportedly disentangling the ID card project as a whole from the system for issuing passports.

Flexible Working

There were plans mentioned in the Queens speech to ‘remove barriers to flexible working and promote equal pay’. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest barriers to flexible working will be the introduction of the Agency Workers Directive (AWD), due for implementation late in 2011. The new Government may now look to address this piece of EU legislation which gives employment rights to those on temporary supply contracts after a 12 week ‘derogation period’. The new Government may also seek to scrap Intermediaries Legislation (also known as IR35) in favour of a more suitable piece of legislation.

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing Tier 1 Visa Applications / Extensions and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a Medical, Information Technology or Engineering Professional on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit).

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your details now and we will get right back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.