I emailed my husband's MP in Sussex, as well as other Parliament figures and this is the email I got back. Same response for them all minus the beginning bit of this email Mind you none of the questions I asked were answered....typical politicians going around the answer to a question.
Thank you for contacting me about immigration. I am sorry the recently announced changes to UK immigration policies will affect you personally.
The reality is, however, the current rules needed changing in order to be sustainable. Immigration to the UK has been out of control and the Coalition has introduced measures to bring the numbers down.
The Government has now implemented or announced radical changes in all the main routes of immigration and as a result of all the actions the Government is taking, it anticipates net migration will come down to the tens of thousands.
Making the immigration numbers sustainable is necessary for a successful immigration policy but it is not sufficient. The Government is also developing the principle of selectivity in immigration policy - we need to know that it is not just the right numbers of people coming here but that the right people are coming here. We need people who will benefit Britain, not just those who will benefit from Britain.
The Government's reforms of the immigration system will ensure we are much more selective not only about those who are allowed to come here but also those who are allowed to stay permanently.
I have included a list of some of the Government's immigration reforms that have either already been, or are in the process of being, introduced and which will ensure that, as well as bringing the numbers down, we are rightly selective about those coming to Britain.
You are not alone in being affected by the Government's new measures, the policies below will affect many:
· Permanent cap on non-EU migrants. The limit has not been reached in any month since the cap came into effect so the numbers are falling while necessary skilled workers are allowed in
· Introduced minimum skills requirements so that occupations such as cooks and care workers are no longer eligible for entry
· Closed the Tier 1 General route which allowed self-selecting migrants to come without a job offer
· Reformed the student visa system - the largest route of entry. The reforms include a new accreditation system for colleges, new rules on the standards of English required for students, new restrictions to limit students working and bringing dependants and ending the post-study work route option for all but the very brightest
· Cut the automatic link between coming here to work and staying here permanently. Skilled temporary workers wanting to apply for settlement have to be earning £35,000 a year or the going rate for their job, whichever is the higher
· Strengthened security at our border. The UK Border Force is now a separate command within the Home Office, under Chief Constable, Brian Moore, with a clear focus on law enforcement
· Dealing with many problems with family migration, including abuse of human rights legislation and the ability of people to come to the UK and live off benefits immediately. Stopping taxpayers having to foot the bill for family members who cannot pay their way by setting a minimum income level for those wishing to bring spouses and family here
· Introducing clear criteria to protect the public from foreign nationals who try to hid behind family life as a reason to stay here. Under new rules, deportation should become the norm for anyone receiving a custodial sentence of at least 12 months. For criminals jailed for more than four years, the public interest in removal should outweigh the right to family and private life in all but the most exceptional circumstances
· Making spouses wait longer (five years not two) before they can apply to settle here, to help ensure that their relationship is genuine. This will also have the effect of reducing access to benefits for those who have recently arrived
· Introducing new legislation to ensure registrars are able to refuse to perform wedding ceremonies they know to be a sham
· Rewriting the citizenship test to make sure British history and culture is at its heart
· Continuing to apply transitional controls to workers coming from any new EU member states
· Improving our immigration processes so that they continue to deliver better outcomes. For example, 60 per cent of new asylum applicants now receive a decision in just 30 days. Last year we removed over 4,500 foreign criminals and we now start deportation action on foreign national prisoners 18 months before the end of their sentence
· Each month, 1,000 people who should be refused entry to the UK are prevented from even boarding a plane. This 100 per cent coverage coupled with the strict visa regime means that all non- EEA passengers arriving from outside Europe will be checked once, maybe twice before they enter the UK.
Least I got this much of a response, I got nothing back from May, Cameron or Clegg...not really surprised though.
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