for Maltese citizens and this suggests that not all those for whom vouchers
were issued had a serious intention of coming to the UK. The control of
immigration and the issue of vouchers is almost entirely channelled through
Malta House in London and the Ministry of Labour in Malta and if grcater
care is taken in the selection of applicants, 600 vouchers should meet
Malta's real need. Moreover the needs of some applicants for vouchers
might be met by admission for up to 8 months under the seasonal worker schome.
Many of those coming for seasonal work apply for a voucher in case they wish
to stay on. With a reduction in the allocation, a waiting list may build up
for Malta but this is not likely to be excessive.
19.
It is not proposed to apply the stricter criteria to Malta when the
permanent scheme is introduced and it is therefore suggested that they should
not be applied to Category A applicants for Malta under the interim scheme.
20. It is a matter for consideration as to whether vouchers should be refused
where suitable resident labour is available. On the one hand it can be
argued that it is best to proceed in stages, making as few changes as possible
for the interim scheme; and that as Category B voucher holders will still be
coming in without specific jobs to go to under the interim scheme it would be
right not to apply the local labour rule to applications from Malta.
On the
other hand the rule will be applied to Malta under the permanent scheme and
it can be argued that, therefore, we might as well introduce it immediately.
On balance it is suggested that the rule should be applied under the interim
scheme.
THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
21. There well be 200 vouchers available for the territories other than Hong
Kong, more than enough to meet their requirements. They have not so far taken
more than 100 in any one year. Thoro is howover, already a waiting list for
Hong Kong of some 500 applications and this list will grow rapidly if her
8
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.