The long term benefit to the UK economy from migration is significant and will be vital to ensuring the UK's economic recovery. Nonetheless the Government recognises that migration can place short term pressures on local public services including councils, schools, NHS and the police. The Migrants Impact Fund - £70m over the next two years - will help ensure that those pressures are managed effectively for the benefit of the whole community.
Economic migrants and students coming to the UK from outside the EU will be charged a levy in addition to their normal visa application fee. All regions of England will receive a proportion of the funding. The amount each receives will be weighted towards the areas where international migration has had the greatest short-term impact. The East of England region has been allocated £3,568,487 over the 2009-10 to 2010-11 period.
Funding will be allocated to local projects from Government Offices working closely with local partners. It will be targeted at projects which have identified innovative solutions to migration related pressures - where possible involving and benefiting a number of local services. It is not intended to replace mainstream service provision, which already has improved mechanisms for reflecting changes in population.
Projects considered for funding must be able to demonstrate that they bring benefits to the settled as well as the migrant community in an area. For example additional English language provision for migrants will mean reducing the cost to public services from translation and interpretation. Projects might also include taking action against rogue landlords, extra staff in schools with high migrant populations, measures to increase GP registration, or targeted support for policing.
All local service providers including the police, local authorities, and Primary Care Trusts will be eligible to benefit from this fund, but bids must be channelled through, or endorsed by, a Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).
With a closing date of noon 1 May for all bids, the Stronger Communities team will be working with LSPs across the region to support their bid building and writing.
