Immigration Minister Damian Green has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to create a sustainable selective immigration system that encourages the brightest and best to come to the UK.

In a speech at the Policy Exchange on 2nd February 2012, the minister expressed a desire to “raise the tone of the immigration debate” and start building a national consensus on how immigration can be made to work for Britain.

He committed to pressing on with sweeping reforms that impose restrictions on migrants the country does not need, while developing a greater selectivity to attract those migrants the country wants.

“We need to know not just that the right number of people are coming here, but that the right people are coming here. People that will benefit Britain – not just those who will benefit by Britain,” Mr. Green said. “We have laid the foundations for a sustainable system where we get numbers down and keep them down. Now we shall make it work for Britain.”

The government has made a commitment to reduce net migration numbers from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands.

Mr. Green pointed to the most recent published figures as an early positive sign. “The beneficial effects of these policies are just beginning to show up, with an 11 per cent fall in student visas and a 17 per cent fall in work visas in the latest quarterly figures compared with a year previously,” he said.

The government will soon announce further changes to family migration and reforms to settlement, breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration.

It will also be completing the changes to the student visa route.

The government is currently reviewing the annual limit on skilled economic migrants.

Mr. Green said that the ‘points based system’ of the past should ultimately be replaced by a ‘contribution-based system’ where migrants are checked to ensure they will add to quality of life in the UK.

“What is sustainable is an approach which brings the numbers down but at the same time targets those whom Britain needs to attract to create a dynamic economy. Those who have the knowledge, ideas and the skills to make us a more productive place, and therefore a place where it is easier for UK citizens to find a job. This means developing a system which chooses carefully who we allow to come, and who we allow to stay,” Mr. Green said.

The ‘contribution-based system’ is already being implemented with the development of more selective routes for entrepreneurs, investors and those with exceptional talent alongside existing routes for entertainers, trainees and researchers.

Mr. Green confirmed the introduction of a new route for international graduate entrepreneurs - international students who have engaged in innovative entrepreneurial activity during their studies and want to stay on afterwards to develop their business ideas.

The government also plans to improve the system for some short-term business visitors and entertainers to ensure world-class performers are encouraged to come to the UK.