| Date of speech | 16 October 2008 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hilton Tower Bridge, London |
| Event summary | The I&DeA National Conference: 'Managing migration - learning the lessons' |
Draft text of the speech - may differ from the delivered version.
I would like to thank the Improvement and Development Agency for the opportunity to contribute to this discussion, and to celebrate the outcomes of this programme.
Also I would like to say a big thank you to all of those that have played a valuable contribution to the programme's successful delivery.
One that has helped to address the challenges migration brings, and share the positive and practical things that are being done across the country to manage them.
The Tower Bridge area of London is perhaps an appropriate forum in which to discuss the benefits and challenges that migration brings, with its long and rich history of migration with Tower Hamlets and Southwark on either side.
Firstly, there needs to be recognition of how important migration has been in British history.
For centuries our country has been enriched and strengthened by openness to new people, new ideas and trade.
New arrivals after the Second World War from the Commonwealth helped set the NHS on its feet and support other crucial public services.
They have enriched our culture with influences on music, events such as the Notting Hill Carnival, and of course our cuisine.
Famous migrants who have played a part range from Michael Marks, the Russian born Pole, who founded Marks and Spencer; Ugandan Reasmi Thakrar who founded Tilda Rice; to the French Roux brothers (Albert and Michel) who have enhanced Britain's gastronomic standing across the world.
However, in recent years, the patterns of migration are changing. Travel has become easier, more people are choosing to come for a short time and return home; and this has led to new challenges. Particularly with the expansion of the EU which has brought new arrivals from Eastern Europe.
Today, in the era of globalisation, looking outwards is more vital than ever. We need to make the most of the flow of capital, goods, services and people, all of which are essential in remaining a leading force in the world economy. Migration makes a positive economic contribution.
Migration plays an important role in the both rural and urban areas and not just in low-skilled industries. Students from abroad who decide to stay and put their talents to use and the professionals attracted to the UK all play their part.
We know in rural areas, such as the East of England, migrants play a big role in agriculture, hospitality and tourism. In fact previous research from the East of England Development Agency in 2005 found that migrant workers contributed approximately £360 million a year to the region's economy.
Some parts of the UK are experiencing demographic change on a scale they have not seen before, driven by migration. Although the major cities and towns have been experiencing migration for a long time - indeed has been built on it - it can be a new phenomenon for other areas, particularly rural ones.
Hence, the importance in the spread of projects that the Migration Excellence Programme has included, from rural to urban, from unitary to two tier authorities, and covers the whole of England.
The scale and pace of change has presented new challenges to local authorities, and their partners in schools, health services, and housing associations among others.
Charities for example are seeing people come for help who don't speak English as their first language.
It can be unsettling for many. In some places this can lead to difficult relations between people of different backgrounds. Where people do not have the skills or knowledge about how to get along with people who are different to them.
Sometimes it is small misunderstandings that lead to tensions - for example, when people don't know when to put their bin out.
Sometimes, the challenge is not so much what migrants do as the perceptions of settled communities.
At worst, extremists look to use all this as an opportunity to try and create divisions, driving a wedge between different communities.
This becomes more relevant at a time of economic downturn. Where previous experience here and abroad shows us that it can increase the appeal of far-right extremism and racism, as people look for someone to blame, or have perceptions that they are given preferential treatment by the state.
However, it is important to note that the overwhelming majority have positive experiences of getting on well with people from difficult backgrounds in their community.
In fact the Citizenships Surveys from 2003 to 2007 show 80 per cent of people in England and Wales view their communities as cohesive.
Although the picture remains positive, we are not and cannot be complacent.
We know this is not uniform across the country. It can vary significantly between local authorities according to a wide variety of interlocking factors, including migration.
And it is this diversity of experience, demographics, economies, and history from place to place that make local authorities and service providers best placed to understand the challenges they are experiencing and to manage them effectively.
I want to pay tribute to that - especially to those individual local authorities who are experiencing more challenges than others. In many places you have done great work, and are showing true leadership.
The Government will continue to support you in this. This is why we launched the Migration Excellence Programme. To support local authorities and its partners in helping to build their capacity to manage these tensions while maximizing the benefits of migration.
This programme is part of the work my department co-ordinates across Government to understand the impacts of migration on local communities.
We launched Managing the Impacts of Migration on 11 June this year. This demonstrates how we are joining up work across Government Departments and thinking strategically about how we make the most of migration; maximising the benefits and minimising the negative impacts.
First, we are putting together a better picture of migration patterns and helping people to understand who's coming, where from, and for how long.
This includes a programme of work we are taking forward working closely with the Office for National Statistics and the Local Government Association to improve local population and migration statistics and make greater use of administrative data.
Second, we are putting in place a fair and effective way of managing the flow of people coming into and out of the country. The Home Office's new Points Based System will ensure that only those with the right skills or the right contribution to make will be able to come to the United Kingdom to work and study.
And third, we are developing a range of support for local authorities and their partners to manage the impacts of migration.
For the minority of areas where authorities are facing cohesion issues, Government has significantly increased support to promote cohesion, up to £50m over the next three years.
The investment underlines the significance Government attaches to helping communities manage cohesion.
We are piloting Specialist Cohesion Teams, including one in Breckland in Norfolk facing particular challenges related to migration.
We have also placed a much greater focus on integration - including an end to automatic translation and more emphasis on English language learning.
We have made available from this year an Exceptional Circumstances Grant of £10m for schools experiencing rapid growth in pupil numbers or with a significant influx of children who have English as an additional language. And we have increased the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant for schools working with pupils with English as an Additional Language.
A key part of this Government support is helping to increase leadership and operational capability.
We have set up the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) to better understand the impacts of migration on communities and public services. The Migration Impacts Forum comprises a group of frontline practitioners providing independent advice to Government on how migration affects public services and to inform central government how it can support local services in managing this challenge.
We are also introducing from April next year a new fund to build capacity in local service providers to manage the Transitional Impacts of Migration. This will support local service providers to come together and develop shared solutions to shared problems.
And we are supporting the Migration Excellence Programme.
This programme has demonstrated the importance of local knowledge in developing best practice. One thing the programme has confirmed is that migration issues and needs vary considerably from area to area.
Case studies from the programme cover a wide variety of issues which local authorities have sought to tackle, from developing better data and evidence, to adapting local services, and building greater cohesion between new and existing communities.
Southampton have shown how developing a commitment to data sharing can significantly help local areas in understanding the challenges they face, while Ealing have shown the importance in developing a strategic approach to target ESOL funding on areas of highest need. Other projects have highlighted the need for commitment to tackling these issues at all levels from councillors to frontline staff.
The majority of support authorities said that the expertise of peers providing support on similar migration issues helped gain partner buy-in, strengthen working relationships, build capability and shape discussions with the councils, ensuring that their response was targeted towards individual needs.
I am pleased to see that all councils involved have reported that they now have increased understanding and awareness of migration issues. This has led to closer working between authorities and their partners, and improved links with community groups.
I hope you will all use the wide range of resources generated by the programme which all local authorities can benefit from. Namely the case studies, the online community of practice, the good practice guide and checklist for local authorities, and guidance for those producing migrant information packs or resources.
This is why we are here to share the learning and to celebrate the end of the programme, as it has shown the importance of drawing on the expertise in local government and using that to benefit other areas.
I also look forward to seeing the final evaluation report in January 2009, so we can assess the overall effectiveness of this type of programme and consider how this might be best continued in the future.
The challenge for the future now the programme is drawing to a close is how we can continue to utilize the peer model as a way of promoting good practice.
While being mindful that migration issues and needs vary considerably from area to area, it is important that local authorities and their partners assess their own needs and priorities, and what forms of support they need.
That is why we look to the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) to take into account pressures their local areas are facing and consider whether this type of model would help them to manage those pressures.
I hope today will help us all - both in central and local government - understand what more we can do, and how we can do it better.
I believe we have the right fundamental approach.
A commitment to controlling migration in Britain's national interest. Where the benefits of migration for Britain are considerable: migrants to the UK benefit our economy; they provide vital staff in our public services and they greatly enrich our cultural life.
But we need to be hard-nosed about its impact on public services and cohesion.
We need to look at evidence before jumping to conclusions. And one that is not about scaremongering and myths, but taking tough practical action.
Together we have the opportunity to make sure that migration continues to be not a burden, but a benefit for years to come.
I want to hear from you in the future about your experiences and how we can help tackle the impacts and tensions of migration while maximizing the benefits of migration.
Finally, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to this conference, and I look forward to your questions and hearing about its outcome.
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