No 10 distances itself from minister over levy on skilled EU workers

Report of comments by Robert Goodwill MP, Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office on the 11 January 2017 to a meeting of the EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee of the House of Lords EU Select Committee discussing Brexit: UK-EU movement of people.

Media comment focused on a remark by Mr Goodwill in which he suggested that when the UK had left the EU firms wanting to bring in staff from other EU countries might have to pay £1,000 per migrant, per year as an 'immigration skills charge'. The statement was made in the context of a new law coming into force in April 2017 in the UK whereby firms bringing in staff from outside the EU will have to pay this charge.

However, 10 Downing Street distanced themselves from the suggestion on the 12 January 2017 following negative reaction from business interests.

• Primary Source

CAPX, 12.01.17: Brexit gives us the chance to get our immigration policy right https://capx.co/brexit-gives-us-the-chance-to-get-our-immigration-policy-right/

In Facts, 12.01.17: Confusion reigns over May’s migration policy https://infacts.org/confusion-reigns-mays-migration-policy/

Forbes, 11.01.17: UK Mulls Post-Brexit £1,000 Charge On EU Workers - Taxing Immigration Isn't The Way To Do It http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2017/01/11/uk-mulls-post-brexit-1000-charge-on-eu-workers-taxing-immigration-isnt-the-way-to-do-it/

UK: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: House of Lords: Committees: News, 06.01.17: Future policy on EU migration examined with ministers http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-home-affairs-subcommittee/news-parliament-2015/ministers-questioned-eu-migration-policy/

CityA.M., 11.01.17: Downing St has distanced itself from a £1,000 charge on EU recruitment http://www.cityam.com/256869/downing-st-has-distanced-itself-1000-charge-eu-recruitment

EurActiv, 12.01.17: UK studying annual levy on skilled EU workers, minister says http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/uk-studying-annual-levy-on-skilled-eu-workers-minister-says/

UK: GOV.UK: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills: Press Release, 24.03.16: Government’s new Immigration Skills Charge to incentivise training of British workers https://www.gov.uk/government/news/governments-new-immigration-skills-charge-to-incentivise-training-of-british-workers

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