Hard labour

摘要

Thisyeara record number of 220 000 immigrantsare likely to become British citizens. The government believes that immigration provides economic benefits; and the home secretary, Alan Johnson, told a House of Commons committee last month thatthe prospect of a population of 70 million "did not keep him awake at night." Others may disagree, butthisisnotthe place to argue the point.What is unarguable is that if immigration is government policy it is the job of all Whitehall departments to plan on that basis. Immigrants tend to be energetic and young and are likelyto have children. So it doesn't take a genius to work out that a liberal immigration policy needs to be backed up by investment in maternity services, schools, and housing. Otherwise the economy gets the benefit, while public services pay the price. It is hypocritical to hymn trie benefits of immigration without recognisingthat it also imposes some obligations.