Old duffers brigade have their say on migrants

The publication of a new report on the economic effects of immigration by the House of Lords Economics Affairs Select Committee has prompted the usual and predictable mixture of commentators, rent-a-quotes and so-called experts to come out of the woodwork and use up copious amount of media time. There is no doubt that the committee contains some heavyweights including Lords Layard, Turner, Paul and Skidelsky. And there is a terrific amount of economic data and comment in the report for us to soak up.

But no single report is ever definitive and, as the report itself makes clear, the real problem at the moment is that we simply do not have sufficient accurate data on the scale of the migration flows and the characteristics of those who come to live and work in the UK. The report seems to be heavy on the static effects of large-scale net inward migration - but perhaps gives insufficient weight to the dynamic impact of migration in areas such as innovation within businesses and the longer term bsocial benefits from greater cultural diversity.

Anyway, here is the link to the report for those of you who want to read it for yourself.

And the always lively and interesting commentator Philippe Legrain offers this robust defence of the economic benefits of inward migration

Job Vacancy: Butternut Squash Picker

It may be worth setting your video recorders this evening at 9pm, BB2. As you may well be aware the BBC is running a series of programs under the heading of The White Season, Is white working class Britain becoming invisible? The title of the program tonight being The Poles are Coming:

According to some of the locals, Peterborough is being stretched to breaking point by the influx of Eastern Europeans, attracted to the area by the promise of high wages and decent living conditions in exchange for manual labour. Employers are delighted with their Polish recruits, but some residents want the Poles to go home.