The Government has announced that it intends to consult on introducing a limit on the number of migrants from outside Europe coming to work in the United Kingdom. An interim limit will be introduced to avoid a rush of applications before the limit is set, and to ensure that the number of work visas issued stays below 2009 levels. The move is part of a wider Government policy to reduce annual immigration from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands.

In addition to a 12-week consultation with business on how a limit can be introduced, the Government will ask the Migration Advisory Committee, the Government's independent adviser on migration issues, to consider the level at which the limit should be set, given its potential social and economic impact. Taking into account the result of consultation, the Government will put in place permanent limits on non-EU economic migration routes by 1 April 2011.

The interim limits will take effect from 19 July 2010. The interim measures will amend the points-based immigration system, established under Labour, so that the number of highly skilled (Tier One) migrants is capped at current levels and the number of points needed by non-EU workers who come to do highly skilled jobs increases from 95 to 100. The number of certificates of sponsorship that licensed employers can issue to those who wish to come to fill skilled job vacancies will also be limited. The Government predicts that this will reduce the number of people entering the UK through Tier Two by 1,300.

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