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Minister defends new UK immigration policies

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UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke has said the Government's recently announced five-year plan will give the Country an immigration system "fit for the 21st century," the website politics.co.uk reports.

In a statement on March 21, Mr. Clarke said the immigration system must be seen to be properly run and enforced, with clear rules governing who is allowed to enter the Country and settle. However, he acknowledged that migration is important and said that genuine refugees would continue to find a safe haven in the UK.

"Each year there are millions of visitors to our shores. We have global communications, global economies and global movement of people. We have to adapt to these developments, not by putting up the shutters, but by managing, controlling and selecting," he said.