That's the limit (or why the cap doesn't fit)

At the beginning of this month Damian Green, the new Immigration Minister addressed the Royal Commonwealth Society and revealed the government's research document "The Migrant Journey."

While stressing that he subscribed to the view that immigration is beneficial for the UK, the minister emphasised that the coalition government was subjecting all immigration in the UK to close scrutiny. Commenting on the controversial caps on "economic immigration" brought in by Rules he said:

"This limit is absolutely necessary to achieving our overall target, but it will not be enough on its own. Those who accuse the government of concentrating too much on controlling the numbers of skilled workers alone are simply mistaken. We are looking at all routes, and will need to set rules for each of them that give us the immigrants we need."

It's clear however that within the coalition there are disagreements about the value of the cap.

Dr Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, said last week suggested that the interim cap was damaging companies in the UK, because of the limit on recruitment from outside the European Union.

Dr Cable's remarks appear to have reflected the concerns of various industrial chiefs who have made their feelings clear in recent days.

Actions which damage rather than improve the prospects for British industry are unlikely to be desirable in a period of recession. Perhaps with all of this there will be some alleviation of the stringency of the first round of caps, and the pressure will be taken off skilled workers and highly skilled migrants applying for entry clearance under Tier 1 of the Points Based System. That remains to be seen.

But from the rest of Mr Green's speech it appears that students, large numbers of whom are already finding their immigration status in the UK suddenly uncertain when the college at which they are studying summarily has its Tier 4 Sponsor licence removed, may be next in line for the application of a limit. 

The only basis in "the Migrant Journey" for this new target seems to be that a fair number of people who entered the UK as students have remained in the UK after they complete their courses, or have gone on to study additional courses. 

The report does not however suggest that they do so unlawfully and indeed its figures are comprised of people who have leave to remain in the UK. 

As others have already said, there is a striking absence in the report of any dramatic revelation about immigration.