Denham launches £70 million Migration Impacts Fund 'to reduce pressure on local services' » Communities » 24dash.com

A £70 million Migration Impacts Fund, financed by a levy on migrants, will be used to tackle illegal working practices and reduce local pressure on public services, Communities Secretary John Denham announced today.

The funding works alongside the Government’s points based system which means only those the country needs – and no more – can come here. This money will be made available – quickly and directly – to local services across the country, including police, schools and hospitals.

Frontline services – police, school, NHS and voluntary organisations - have already identified projects in their area that will make the biggest difference to insulating them and local people against the impact of migration.

The Government says every region of England will benefit, with the amount each receives being weighted towards the areas where international migration has had the greatest short-term impact.

Nearly 200 projects will receive funding. These include those introducing tougher measures to crackdown on rogue employers, those creating more teachers in schools to ensure good results for all and those increasing GP registration, cutting pressures on emergency services and A&E.

Key themes include:

Fairness in employment:

The vast majority of employers are responsible but a small minority attempt to flout the law, undercut minimum wages and exploit low paid workers, many of whom are migrants. This is unfair. The Government is funding projects that will protect existing workers through enforcing the minimum wage and by increasing awareness of Health and Safety regulations ensuring all employees meet their obligations to all workers.

Housing services:

There is no evidence of unfair access to migrants in social housing. However, in some areas local authorities report concerns that the housing used by migrants can be overcrowded or in poor condition. This can lead to local tensions and cohesion issues. Funding is being targeted at this by cracking-down on rogue landlords that will improve the quality of neighbourhoods for all residents.

Children and young people:

Funding will be targeted at those schools dealing with a sudden influx of pupils with other languages and will support extra multilingual teachers, freeing up teaching time for the benefit of all the class and helping new arrivals to settle in quickly.

More English language lessons:

Being able to speak English is vital in order to find work, and play a full role in the community. Funding provision through the MIF will mean that migrants will be paying for their own classes and ensure that they can access local services properly, reducing the pressure on services and the cost to public services from translation and interpretation.

Community safety:

It is only right that people who come to this country understand our laws and sign up to our shared values. Funding will be provided for projects that tackle anti-social behaviour and will support extra Police Community Support Officers.

Health:

Local services report that migrants often do not understand how to access local healthcare in the most appropriate and therefore cheapest way. Funding will be targeted to increase GP registration relieving pressures on A&E.

Every project has been assessed on the basis that it will help migrants integrate into local communities and in doing so benefits the settled community.

John Denham said: "When people feel that population change is leaving them competing for jobs or access to services the upsides of migration become less apparent and can raise fears and concerns.

"This fund is about taking steps to redress that balance and goes to support projects that are fair to the whole community. Funding will help reduce pressures on public services, maximising the benefits of migration whilst minimising the impact.

"We are working across Government to deliver a migration system that matches opportunities to obligations, duties to rewards. It is only right that people coming to our country support the communities in which they live. That is why this new fund has been provided by migrants on top of the normal everyday taxes we all pay."