IoD Press Release
For immediate release - 27 August 2015
IoD - Net migration target "bizarre and unachievable"
Commenting on figures released this morning which showed net migration to the UK in the year ending March 2015 was 330,000, up by 94,000 on the year ending March 2014,David Seall, Chairman of the Institute of Directors, South, said:
"There is a sensible and mature debate to be had about the costs and benefits of immigration. At the moment, however, the whole issue is being poisoned by the government's adherence to their bizarre and unachievable net migration target. By announcing policies on the hoof every time figures are released, the Government betrays its lack of a long term plan on migration.
"Half of all IoD members employ somebody from outside the UK. That is overwhelmingly because they value the different skills people from around the world bring to their business. This can help them enter new markets, expand global connections or just bring a fresh point of view to the table. It is not about undercutting wages or bringing in cheap staff - only four per cent of IoD members say that cost had anything to do with their decision to hire from abroad. Our public services, in particular the NHS, also depend heavily on access to staff from across the world.
"Businesses recognise the public's concerns over immigration and on the pressure it can place on local communities, schools, housing and public services. The IoD supports British Future's call for a Comprehensive Immigration Review, based on evidence and expert advice. We want to help set out a sensible plan for managing inward migration in a way which supports our economy, works for our businesses and addresses public concerns. At the moment, however, while everything is clouded under the arbitrary net migration target, that is not possible."
ENDS
Contact for further comments or to arrange interviews:
Philip Colley, PR Support, South Region Committee
T: 07785 306378
E:philip.colley@harvestpr.co.uk
Notes to editors
The Institute of Directors (IoD) was founded in 1903 and obtained a Royal Charter in 1906. The IoD is a non-party political organisation with approximately 35,000 members in the United Kingdom and overseas. Membership includes directors from right across the business spectrum - from media to manufacturing, professional services to the public and voluntary sectors. Members include CEOs of large corporations as well as entrepreneurial directors of start-up companies.
The IoD provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its members to key opinion-formers at the highest levels. These include Government ministers and their shadows, parliamentary committee members, senior civil servants and think-tanks. IoD policies and views are actively promoted to the national, regional and trade media. Follow us onTwitterto get the IoD's reaction on business and public policy issues.
The IoD offers a wide range of business services which include business centre facilities, with 15 UK centres (including three in London, Reading, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham, Norwich, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast) and one in Paris, conferences, networking events, virtual offices, issues-led guides and literature, as well as free access to business information and advisory services. The IoD places great emphasis on director development and has established a certified qualification for directors - Chartered Director - as well as running specific board and director-level training and individual career mentoring programmes.
For further information, visit our website: www.iod.com.