UK's Immigration minister Liam Byrne set out a 12 month programme of "sweeping changes" to the UK's immigration system and strategy during a speech in Essex on October 16 2007, workpermit.com announced.

"In 12 months time our immigration system will have changed out of all recognition. From next year, a points-based system, modelled on the success of Australia, will ensure that only people Britain needs can come here to work and study," workpermit.com quoted Byrne as saying.

Byrne acknowledged that migration had benefited the UK economically, but pointed at public dismay over immigration levels.

"We know migration added about 6 billion pounds (8.6 billion euro) to our economy last year, but we know of wider impacts too. What we need to do is strike the right balance for Britain's national interest, starting with the decision on Bulgarian and Romanian workers a little later this year," he said.

Immigration to the UK had decreased, a cross-government report entitled 'The Economic and Fiscal Impact of Immigration' said. The 2007 inflow of 189 000 people was a 28 percent decrease from 262 000 over the same period the previous year, the report said.

The report found that migrants on average earned more than their native counterparts, suggesting that migrants were more productive. Migrants earned an average 424 pounds (607 euro) per week in 2006, compared to 395 pounds (565 eur0) per week for the native-born population, workpermit.com said.