New migrant fund starting from April '09?

This was announced in the UKBA's blurb this weekend along with the new proposals to change the Tier 1 scheme:

April - start charging migrants to create a multimillion pound fund to reduce the impacts of migration on local services

(Halfway down on this page: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/migrantworkerstoughertest )

I mentioned this before but was informed, I believe, that such charging could not begin until some primary legislation was enacted. Or at least some further consultation. Is that no longer the case, or is this just an example of some bureaucratic bravado? For it seems like these further charges will now appear sooner rather than later.

A few bits of info which sadly do not make this any clearer:

On 15 May 2008, PM Brown's afternoon briefing (direct link isn't working): 'Asked about the Migration Impact Fund which had been mentioned in the Queen’s Speech, the PMS said that this had been around for a while; this was one of the measures, not the most significant, in the White Paper on the rights and responsibilities of British citizenship which was published in February and was part of the Immigration and Citizenship Bill.'

From an MP's website, June 2008: 'In a speech setting out the cross-Governmental approach to managing migration, Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary, has stated that none of the money from the Migrant Impact fund, due to come into force next February [sic!], will go to help local services. Instead, she has said that Whitehall ‘cohesion teams’ will be sent around the country to advise local service providers how to manage migration better.'

http://www.shaileshvara.com/search/article.php?id=586

Earlier in February 2009 in the HoC, Minister for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing Vernon Coaker claimed 'Migrant numbers do have an impact on costs, and that is why the Government have set up a fund, available from April 2009, to help local services with those costs, such as translators. That money will be made available to Government offices, including the Government office for London.'

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090204/debtext/90204-0005.htm

The subsequent references seem to be part of a 'funding the police' debate, rather than 'focusing on immigrants'.

But aren't "migrants" technically those from within the EU and not the same thing as "immigrants"??

But aren't "migrants" technically those from within the EU and not the same thing as "immigrants"??

Nope, "migrants" is a very wide brush of a term. And trust me when I say that we're included in it. Unlike the EU migrants, however, we get charged for things. Under EU agreements, they don't.

I think everything london_lad said is spot on and accurate.  The fund was enacted through orders in council, so they didn't need to have legislation.

There are worrying aspects about this programme, including the possibility of a tax increase for parents who provide accommodation for young families just starting out.  And speaking on behalf of what American immigrants will undoubtedly observe, it's just plain and simple 'taxation without representation'.

How do we advocate for something like that.  We knew it was on their roadmap.  Sneaky sneaky folks here.  Just push everything down our throats so we don't have time to fight it.  Another thing that I would love to fight, but who has time?

Hello To anyone who can answer this....The New Migration Fund that they are soon to implement will this affect people already here on ILR or is it solely for NEW migrants? Anyone Know? Thanks

Can I just ask, in all sincerity, if I'm:

1) Paying UK income tax
2) Paying NIN tax
3) Paying Council tax
4) Paying VAT
5) Paying rent
6) Paying for public transport
7) Spending my income in the UK (almost solely)
8 ) Depositing my income and savings into UK banks
9) Paying for my own UK postgraduate degree studies without UK financial aid

exactly how am I adversely impacting migrant services for me? This is not a facetious question. I honestly want to know.

Can I just ask, in all sincerity, if I'm:

1) Paying UK income tax
2) Paying NIN tax
3) Paying Council tax
4) Paying VAT
5) Paying rent
6) Paying for public transport
7) Spending my income in the UK (almost solely)
8 ) Depositing my income and savings into UK banks
9) Paying for my own UK postgraduate degree studies without UK financial aid

exactly how am adversely impacting migrant services for me? This is not a facetious question. I honestly want to know.

Not to mention you are not claiming any benefits. 

I too, would like an answer to this question.

The only thing they could potentially say is that we can use the NHS before we pay into it, and people with children are using schools. However, since non-EEA migrants as a general rule make a net contribution to the economy, it's apparent this is yet another case of scapegoating us over problems caused by two classes of migrants they can do nothing about: EU migrants and asylum seekers.

The only thing they could potentially say is that we can use the NHS before we pay into it, and people with children are using schools.

I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong but education is a basic human right laid out by the UN.  The UK has no choice but to provide education. 

Yes, but it still costs money, and the government has gone on about how lots of extra children, and especially ones who don't speak English very well, are creating an added burden on some schools.

Apparently the new fees announced earlier this month include the new charges towards the "social fund" that this government have been talking about:

Fund to manage the transitional impacts of migration

7.3 Additionally, for certain routes the new fees incorporate a contribution to a fund to manage the transitional impacts of migration, in accordance with the Government’s declared policy to create a fund to help local service providers deal with transitional pressures of migration.

You can find that information on page 4 of the explanatory memo to the new fees here:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/draft/em/ukdsiem_9780111474167_en.pdf

The actual new fees legislation draft can be found here:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/draft/ukdsi_9780111474167_en_2

So with the new fees, what you see is what you get. I imagine there will be no further "tack-ons" later in the year for the "social fund". But again, it was interesting that this fund was piggybacked onto a general fees announcement.

*reads that section of the pdf*

OH.  So when the fees went up and lots of us cried 'I thought the fees would go up MORE', that increase was actually the migrant-impact-whatever fee?

Well, that's something of a relief.  (When it comes to the HO, I take what I can get.)

Thanks so much for finding and posting the links!

LadyAnglesey: exactly.  I should paste that list onto the back of my business cards and hand it out to any 'those damn immigrants using up our services' whiners.

Garry: yes, but we are already subject to 'taxation without representation', so it's really just more of the same....  I mean, my MP responds personally to many of my e-mails and remembers my name when we meet in person, but that isn't really the same as being able to vote!

Garry: yes, but we are already subject to 'taxation without representation', so it's really just more of the same....  I mean, my MP responds personally to many of my e-mails and remembers my name when we meet in person, but that isn't really the same as being able to vote!

Well when it came to visas fees the theory was that the fees were representative of the costs of handling the visa and nothing more (you can argue with the numbers) where as these specifically levy monies over and above the required funds to provide the visa.