Queen's Speech To Lay Out Immigration Measures 'To Make Britain Great Again'

Queen's Speech Will Tackle Immigration 'To Make Britain Great Again'

Measures to tackle immigration will form part of a Queen's Speech in proposals which David Cameron claims will make the nation great again.

It will be easier to deport foreign criminals by preventing the abuse of human rights laws and there will be a crackdown on employers who take on illegal migrants.

A new Immigration Bill will write into law the government's policy of ensuring the Article 8 human right to a family life is not abused, ensuring courts balance the crime against the perpetrator's right to remain in the country.

The Bill will enable more substantial fines to be imposed on businesses exploiting illegal labour.

David Cameron is to lay out the plans in a foreword to the speech

Private landlords will also face fines, potentially of thousands of pounds, if they fail to check on the immigration status of tenants.

Incomers' access to NHS services will be regulated and temporary migrants will be expected to make a contribution.

The Prime Minister and his deputy Nick Clegg will acknowledge that the path to economic recovery had proved to be "tough" but will insist that their resolve has "never been stronger".

In a joint foreword to the speech, they will say: "We know that Britain can be great again because we've got the people to do it.

"Today's Queen's Speech shows that we will back them every step of the way. It is all about backing people who work hard and want to get on in life."

The number of migrants has fallen by a third since 2010, but the Government still has a long way to go to reduce migration to Mr Cameron's stated aim of tens of thousands.

Legislation will be read out by the Queen in a speech to parliament

A net flow of 163,000 migrants came to the UK in the year to June 2012, down from 247,000 in the previous year, according to the most recent official figures.

As well as the legislation in the Queen's Speech, the government is taking steps to limit access to certain benefits for unemployed European Economic Area migrants to six months.

The government will make sure that only those with a well-established local links qualify for social homes in their area through new statutory housing allocations guidance setting out that a reasonable period of residency would be between two and five years.

Legislation later this year will introduce a residence test for civil legal aid, meaning most people will need to be lawfully resident in the UK for 12 months before they can access it.

Other measures expected to be announced when the Queen sets out the government's legislative programme include:

:: A National Insurance Contributions Bill implementing the Budget commitment to cut the cost of recruiting new employees.

Up to 1.25 million businesses will benefit, with around 450,000 of these taken out of paying employer National Insurance Contributions altogether.

:: A Deregulation Bill to cut red tape for firms looking to grow.

:: A Social Care Bill to cap care costs, so pensioners will not have to sell their homes.

:: A Pensions Bill to create a flat-rate pension, which ministers claim will encourage saving and help women who have had long career breaks.

:: A Consumer Rights Bill covering goods, services, digital content and unfair contract terms.

But several measures are expected to be notable for their absence such as forcing cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging and setting a minimum price for alcohol following reported changes of heart by Number 10, and communications data legislation which was killed off by Mr Clegg who dubbed it a ''Snooper's Charter''.

Aid agencies are also angry that the government will again not enshrine in law its commitment to meet the United Nations target to devote 0.7% of GDP to aid spending.

Cabinet ministers said at the weekend that the important thing was to meet the target amid reports Mr Cameron had abandoned the promise to legislate by 2015.

Shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle said: "We will look at measures on immigration

"But the truth is over the last three years they have failed on immigration as they have failed in so many other areas

"The lesson of these three years and of the recent elections is that people see a country which is not working for them.

"People across Britain see a Prime Minister without direction and a country where things are getting worse not better.

"There are one million young people looking for work.

"The economy is flat-lining, wages are down £1,700 since 2010 and living standards are being squeezed.

"All they hear is David Cameron telling people that they are actually better off, when they know the reality: they are worse off.

"And at the same time, there is one group that is decisively better off: the richest in society.

"No wonder people think the country is going in the wrong direction when the government has given a £250,000 tax cut to someone earning £5 million a year and someone on £25,000 a year is worse off."

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