UK government opens migration law consultations

On 3 July the UK government opened a consultation on NHS access for migrants. According to the government “the NHS has a longstanding weakness in charging foreign nationals who use the NHS, and has similar problems in recovering the cost of treatment to visitors from the European Economic Area.”

The consultation includes plans to introduce a levy for recent migrants from outside the EEA and to end free healthcare for tourists and visitors.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has already expressed concerns at the proposed reforms. RCGP Chair Dr Claire Gerada said, "GPs must not be a new border agency in policing access to the NHS". The Royal College of Midwives have criticised the lack of clarity in the Bill as to whether the charges would apply to maternity services. They claim that that the reforms may make vulnerable women such as victims of trafficking less likely to seek medical assistance.

Click here to read a press release from the Royal College of General Practitioners and here to read a press release from the Royal College of Midwives.

The consultation is open until 28 August. Click here to access the Home Office's consultation website and download relevant documents.

On the same day the UK government launched a consultation on reforms requiring landlords to check the immigration status of new tenants. Landlords who make an honest mistake about their tenants’ immigration status will face "proportionate" penalties under the new laws. The proposed reforms would also see penalties of up to £3000 per tenant for landlords who repeatedly break the law.

The Migrants' Rights Network have claimed that the reforms will drive tenants to less reputable landlords and will lead to increased discrimination and social exclusion, saying, “They won’t need to resort to signs saying No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish, but the effects could be the same.”

The consultation is open until 21 August. Click here to access the Home Office's consultation website.

Click here to read an article from the Migrants’ Rights Network about the proposed reforms.

The reforms are being considered as part of wider plans for immigration reform. Bulletin readers may recall that a number of proposals for immigration reform were announced in the Queen’s speech in May.  According to the speech “The Bill will ensure that this country attracts people who will contribute and deters those who will not.” Click here to read the Queen’s Speech.

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