MAIL ONLINE: Immigrants are to be given instructions on how to claim benefits as their first step in a new life in Britain.
They will be told to attend ‘orientation days’ at which they will be given information including their right to claim handouts, according to plans published by ministers yesterday.
The instructions were set out in a Home Office paper on how immigrants will in future be asked to qualify for a British passport by earning points and credits.
At present those allowed entry into Britain gain citizenship almost automatically after five years.
Among the ideas put forward by Home Secretary Alan Johnson is that migrants should be encouraged to return to their home countries to stem a Third World brain drain.
Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said: ‘There are clear risks in depriving developing countries of people and skills they badly need. Government needs to do more to maximise the positive impacts on the developing world and mitigate the negative.’
Possible schemes include allowing workers or students into Britain for just two years before they take their new skills back home. >>> Steve Doughty | Tuesday, August 04, 2009
