Minister defends cap on non-EU migrants

Immigration Minister Damian Green has defended government proposals for a cap on immigration for non-EU migrants.

Giving evidence to the Home Affairs select committee on 20 July, said it was "pointless" for the government to set a limit on population growth but that it could control incoming migration.

In June, the Home Secretary announced plans to scale back migration from outside the EU.

Details of how the final limit will be achieved will be agreed following a 12-week consultation, and Mr Green said it would be "perverse and unhelpful" to say what the conclusions would be.

Migrants from outside the EU currently apply under one of the "tiers" that make up the points based system.

The committee also heard from Adam Marshall from the British Chamber of Commerce, and David Ramsden from the Federation of Small Businesses.

Mr Ramsden said he did not want a cap as it could prevent businesses from "getting the right people for the right job".

Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert said the UK could be moving from a "soft touch" country on immigration to an overly "hard touch" country.