Government to consider cutting migrant workers limit, Prime Minister says

In a speech on immigration at the Institute of Government in London Prime Minister David Cameron said that companies are currently using less than half of their monthly visa quota for workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

He said that he would be asking the Migration Advisory Council (MAC), which advises the Government on immigration issues, to reconsider the limit.

Outlining his plans to "get a grip" on immigration, he also proposed the creation of a new forced marriage offence and unveiled changes to the citizenship test that will include questions on British history.

The 'points based' immigration system (PBS) was introduced in 2008 to replace the existing work permit system. Under the PBS migrants from outside the EEA and Switzerland must be able to demonstrate that they possess certain attributes before they can get permission to enter or remain in the UK.

An annual limit of 20,700 was introduced in April this year on the number of sponsorship certificates which can be granted to employers of skilled workers under the Tier 2 (General) category. The limit applies where the worker is currently based outside the UK and the job has a proposed salary of under £150,000.

However Cameron said that large numbers of Tier 2 migrants "were actually coming to do low-level work" for which many people felt that unemployed people already in the UK should be trained.

The limit of 20,700 for the year had been undersubscribed "each and every month" since it was introduced, Cameron said.

"That provides the opportunity to consider with business what further tightening of the system may be possible without undermining growth," he said.

Responding to a question after the speech, Cameron downplayed concerns about restricting the number of workers allowed into the country at a time when the economy was struggling.

"We can [control immigration] in a way that doesn't damage the economy and I think that's what the figures so far prove. But we will always be pragmatic and sensible, listening to business opinion as we go about this vitally important work," he said.

Immigration law expert Simon Horsfield of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, described the proposal as a "concern".

"UK companies now have to compete in a global talent pool, and if we can't get that talent into the country then that is going to hold us back," he said.

"From a business point of view, companies need the best person for the job. It is a real concern that these quotas are not being used but that is because of a lack of understanding about how the new system works. It does not reflect the fact that we do not need these workers," he said.

In his speech, Cameron also promised to "break the link" between coming to the UK to work and settling in the country.

"Only those who contribute the most economically will be able to stay and we're consulting [MAC] on how best to do this," he said.

Cameron said that the Government had also reduced the types of job that could be offered to migrants.

Last month the MAC recommended that the number of occupations on the Shortage Occupation List should be reduced to restrict the positions open to non-European workers.