Home Secretary's statement on Limits on Non-EU Economic Migration
28th June 2010
Margot James calls on the Home Secretary to ensure that we keep control of immigration levels so we never again find ourselves in a position where 4 out of 5 new jobs created go to foreign nationals.
Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con): I put my question on behalf of the 4.5 million people who lived on out-of-work benefits during the past decade, when four out of five of the new jobs created in the boom years went to foreign nationals. That was unforgivable and we cannot let it happen again. We were elected on a clear platform significantly to reduce immigration. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that she will stand firm in the face of lobbying that seeks to defend unacceptably high levels of immigration again in the name of skills? The skills we do not have in this country, and indeed across the rest of the EU, cannot reasonably-[Hon. Members: "Speech!"] I will give way now.
Mrs May: I thank my hon. Friend for her points. She was making a valid point about the many unemployed people in the UK who have not had the skills to take advantage of the work opportunities that have become available. Our welfare reform proposals will provide extra support to help people get into work, and that is important. She is also right to say that people are looking to this Government to ensure that we control immigration into this country.
