“Misconceived and inappropriate” is IAS' judgement on the new Bill which not only takes away rights of appeal from students and migrant workers but the appeal right against an immigration decision will be available only where the Government specifically provides for it in secondary legislation.

Summary

Britain’s greatness and reputation has been built on trade (with a little bit of conquest along the way!). We have been used to trading in capital, goods and finance. We must now make sure that we deal in the new capital: people. They bring their intellect, skills, expertise and labour in which we are lacking. If we turn our backs on immigrants and the benefits they bring to the UK we shall all be the poorer. Whether that is in students who extend our influence around the world as well as bringing in much needed funds for our academic institutions as well as their spending power or visitors who contribute so much to our economy or the facility for family reunion which strengthens our diverse culture and the businesses which advance our wealth or migrant labourers who fill the vacancies that cannot be found from our resident population – all bring their own value to our society. We are fearful that the new measures will inhibit that.
We are in favour of simplifying the system to make it easier to access and to comprehend by British industry and the public. We await the consultation on the proposals for a points system. But will fail if this proves to be more bureaucratic and unresponsive to the different sectors in our economy than what already has become an impenetrable and overly complicated system through piecemeal and ill-considered reform. The Bill which will be enacted in 2006 will become the seventh piece of major immigration legislation in less than thirteen years. The list of repeals and amendments to previous legislation (some of which was never even implemented) tells its own story. An opportunity has been lost to have a unified consolidating Bill.