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More joined-up thinking from John Reid

Posted August 7th, 2006 by Davide Simonetti
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Last month John Reid announced a moratorium on important Government research effectively blocking the release of any Government publication which might embarrass the Home Office.

John Reid, the Home Secretary, has ordered a "pause" in the publication of government-funded studies on crime, immigration and prisons.

The move affects research commissioned by the Home Office and carried out by leading academics. One of the delayed papers, a gun crime study by Prof Chris Lewis of Portsmouth University, was set to highlight the ease with which criminals can obtain firearms.

Today it seems that he has changed his tune.

In a major departure in Labour's immigration policy he said he was setting up an "informed and non-partisan" committee of experts to set a limit that would be "beneficial in terms of enhancing the economy of this country commensurate with our social stability".

[…]

Mr Reid told the BBC yesterday that he wanted to see a more mature discussion about immigration in Britain, which would be helped by the establishment of the independent migration advisory committee. The committe would help "tell us the optimum level of immigration ... beneficial in terms of enhancing the economy and commensurate with our social stability", he said. He added: "Bringing in independent advice would take it away from being a party political football and indicate we are listening very carefully to people's concerns about immigration."

So is the moratorium over then?