£3.6million to help communities with migration pressures

The North West region is to receive £3.6million to help communities in managing local pressures from migration.

It is hoped that the money will be used to manage pressures on councils, schools, the NHS and the police where there are high levels of migration.

Economic migrants and students coming to the UK from outside the EU will be charged a levy in addition to their normal visa application fee.

The revenue will form the Migrants Impact Fund, which will mean that migrants are being asked to pay an additional contribution to that which they already make through taxes, to support the communities in which they live.

The money will be targeted at projects which have identified innovative solutions to migration related pressures, where possible involving and benefiting a number of local services.

Projects considered for funding must be able to demonstrate that they bring benefits to the settled as well as the migrant community in an area. For example additional English language provision for migrants will mean reducing the cost to public services from translation and interpretation. Projects might also include taking action against rogue landlords, extra teachers in school with high migrant populations, measures to increase GP registration, or targeted support for policing.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said: "Migration brings significant benefits for this country. But it is a complex area never far from heated public debate. That is why we need an honest discussion about it, that acknowledges the local pressures which migration can create in our communities and on our public services.

"It is crucial that we manage migration in an active way and the measures that we are taking across Government are helping to do this.

"The new Migration Impacts Fund, that comes from an extra levy on new migrants as they enter our country, will support local services like health, police, and schools to manage any pressures. It will also help ensure that those who arrive here learn to speak English so they can work to support themselves, get to know their neighbours and participate fully in our society.

"We have a shared responsibility to work together, live together and get along together, whether born in Britain or coming from abroad. I want Britain to be a place where decency, hard work, and respect for the law and for each other are values we all sign up to as citizens. We all have a responsibility to make that happen."