§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a quota for all categories of migrant. [34151]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 7 February 2002]: Our immigration system is not generally based on applying quotas but on requiring conditions set out in the Immigration Rules and associated concessions, to be met for permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to be given. Two exceptions are our bilateral youth exchange scheme with Japan and the longstanding Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme (SAWS) for which there is an annual quota. We plan to introduce new quota-based routes of entry to the United Kingdom. As we said in our White Paper, "Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration with Diversity in Modern Britain", published on 7 February:
We will build on the principles of [SAWS] to meet the demand for short-term casual labour in other sectors of the United Kingdom economy. As with the SAWS, we envisage quotas will be a key feature of any similar schemes that would be carefully targeted at specific sectors and closely managed. Entry would be for a short period of up to six months and applicants would not have the right to bring dependants with them".We also plan to reform the existing SAW scheme.