Key to immigration system must be filling skills gap

5.00.00pm GMT Fri 29th Feb 2008

Commenting on the points-based immigration system being introduced today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"The key should not be an arbitrary number of points, but whether the economy needs that type of employee whether skilled or unskilled.

"If immigrants fill gaps in our labour market, they help to create more wealth and jobs for British people too. The principle should be to fill gaps in the economy, not just prize skills which may or may not be in short supply, as we saw recently with junior doctors.

"The Government needs to combine better immigration management with a tougher approach to law-breaking employers who take on illegal immigrants.

"In the last two years, only 34 people have been prosecuted for employing illegal immigrants and all the experience from countries with ID cards shows that they will not be a magic solution."