Limits must be placed on our growing migrant population

DWP figures just out have shown that 510 new foreign workers in the last financial year have received national insurance numbers after moving to Keighley and Ilkley.

To my mind, migrants play a very important role in complementing our domestic workforce, particularly in filling vacancies that might otherwise be left empty.

However, the fact is that the continuing high level of migrants into the UK – particularly those who are economically inactive and do not have national insurance numbers - is inevitably going to result in increased pressures on our public services including housing, schools and hospitals.

The last ten years have seen a Labour Government pursuing what can only be described as an ‘open door’ policy where no restrictions on numbers have been applied.

The horse has effectively bolted in relation to the new EU accession states whose residents have now gained the freedom to live and work wherever they wish in any member country. The British Government must ensure that residents of future member states do not gain such unrestricted rights, certainly in relation to the UK.

Of more pressing importance, though, is the need for the Government to move swiftly to impose a strict annual limit on the number of non-EU migrants allowed to enter and remain in this country. This would be a positive move and a law that could be implemented relatively swiftly.

Together with a much stronger border controls which Conservatives like me have been demanding for many years, I believe we would then have the basis for greater stability.