London,
Sept. 26: A British Council-sponsored poll has found that most young
Brits think the country’s national identity is being comprised by the
unrestricted entry of immigrants.

, November 12 :Those wishing to work in Britain can fulfil their desire by learning to shear sheep, for this is one of the "shortage occupations" on the UK''s most wanted list.

Ballet-dancers, horse-trainers, geologists, petrophysicists, pipe-welders, and chefs are the other categories on the list of occupations that may be given preference when the new immigration rules come into force later this year.

However, there will be strict conditions attached so as to that only sufficiently skilled people are let in.

Pipe-welders will need at least three years experience, chefs will need to earn at least £8.10 an hour after deductions for board and lodging, and sheep-shearers will have to hold the British Wool Marketing Board bronze medal.

An uninterrupted flow of highly skilled workers, investors, and entrepreneurs will by ensured through the "Points-Based System" (PBS).

The system has been designed to protect UK workers by reducing the number of positions open to non-EU workers from 1 million to 800,000.

Employers will also have to prove that they cannot fill a job locally before offering it to a foreigner.

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said that the scheme was "the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for a generation".

“The Australian-style points system is flexible, allowing us to raise or lower the bar according to the needs of business and taking population trends into account,” Times Online quoted him as saying.

"Had the points system been in place last year there would have been 12 per cent fewer people coming in to work through the equivalent work permit route. On top of this, the strict new shortage list means 200,000 fewer jobs are available via the shortage occupation route,” he added. (ANI)