Applicants under the General
Occupational
Class and the
Disciplined Services Class will be selected on the basis of a
points system. The broad criteria against which points will be
awarded, and the maximum number of points available for each
criterion, remain as set out in the Explanatory Notes. The House
will recall that the criteria are age, experience, education and
training, special circumstances, proficiency in the English
language, connections with the UK and public and community
service.
Mr Speaker, concern has been expressed, particularly during the
Standing Committee of this House, about the 150 points available
in particular the amount of
for
"special
circumstances",
discretion available to the Governor in awarding up to 50 points
for individual merit.
Article 14 of the Order now makes clear that up to 30 of these
50 points will be tied objectively to occupation-related merit
or achievement, for example local or international awards. A
further maximum of 30 will be available for unpaid service with
specified voluntary agencies or institutions in the social,
medical or educational field; and up to 20 points will be awarded
for officially recognised and rewarded acts of bravery or
gallantry.
Since the whole focus of this scheme is to discourage people who
are prone to do so from emigrating, the Governor needs greater
flexibility to recognise particularly high rates of emigration
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