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Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008
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U.K. Minister to hold talks on immigration

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: British Minister of State for Borders and Immigration Liam Byrne is in India to engage “key stakeholders” in his country’s attempt to reform the immigration system. He is accompanied by a cross-party delegation of “influential” British Asian community leaders.

India is the U.K.’s largest visa operation, accounting for one-fifth of the global demand for various types of the country’s visas.

Mr. Byrne’s visit comes ahead of a move by a ministerial group to ban non-European Union nationals from occupying training posts in U.K. hospitals.

Last year, the U.K. Department of Health issued “guidance,” under which non-E.U. doctors might be considered for training posts only if there was no European candidate. This was successfully challenged in courts and the government is considering an appeal against the order.

In a pre-visit statement, the Minister said he looked forward to “meeting, listening and responding to people who are interested in our plans to reform the U.K.’s immigration system. Our ties with India are immensely strong, and the fact that so many people travel between our two countries means that it is absolutely right that I come here at this time.”

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