'New points-based system not restricting immigrant flow'

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New Delhi, October 4:: Observing that Europe was in need of skilled manpower due to its declining population, Asian-origin British MP Keith Vaz said the new points-based immigration system would provide a fair chance of working and settling in the United Kingdom.

Vaz, who represents British Parliament from Leicester East, said there was a need to make people aware of the new system as there was a view that it had been brought about to restrict the number of people coming into the UK.

"Instead of restricting the number of people, this would in fact increase the immigrant flow besides making people aware of whether they could settle down in the country or not," he said in an interaction with the media here.

The new points-based system was introduced in February this year to rate prospective immigrants based on their skills.

Vaz said he has also taken up the case of South Asian chefs, as a majority of top cooks in British Hotels and restaurants were from South Asia.

"There have been some critics of the new immigration system, but the number of immigrant students in Britain since its introduction has risen considerably," he said.

There has been a general welcome for the points-based system, he added.

Vaz said that in addition to skilled Indian workers coming over to Britain to work, the United Kingdom also wanted the Indian Government to open the country's gates for British advocates.