7:40am Tuesday 14th July 2009
By Matt Smith
MORE than £1m of Government money has been allocated to help public services in the south cope with the effects of immigration.
Southampton will receive £960,000 over two years, the Hampshire County Council area £190,000 and the Isle of Wight £50,000, Communities Secretary and Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has announced.
The cash is being raised by a levy on new migrants – of between £50 and £200 each – which is expected to raise £70m nationally between 2009-11 to ease the pressure on frontline services such as police, hospitals and schools.
The cash for Southampton will be used to train English teachers for migrant children and to reduce translation and interpretation costs.
Hampshire will provide a multicultural centre and a development worker to encourage community participation in sport in an attempt to reduce antisocial behaviour and promote healthier lifestyles.
The money for the Isle of Wight will be used to provide information for migrants about GP registration and fire safety to reduce pressure on Accident and Emergency and fire services.
Mr Denham said: “When people feel that population change is leaving them competing for jobs or access to services, the upsides of migration become less apparent and can raise fears and concerns.
“This fund is about taking steps to redress that balance and goes to support projects that are fair to the whole community. Funding will help reduce pressures on public services, maximising the benefits of migration while minimising the impact.”
Mr Denham told the Daily Echo: “People in Southampton are generally tolerant of migration provided people work hard and play by the rules and it is not having an impact on them. The city maintains the tradition of being a fair place that welcomes newcomers.”
The £70m national Migration Impacts Fund will be paid for by an extra charge on the visa applications of migrants.
That will start at £50 but further charges will be added as applications to extend the length of time someone wants to stay are made.
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