City enjoys Fringe benefits of a flexible immigration policy

Published on Saturday 24 May 2008 10:57

Threat to festival performers' access has been lifted, says Mark Lazarowicz

IMMIGRATION is often a controversial issue, a matter which can arouse strong opinions and strident views. What we have to do is to get the right balance between the need for a fair system of immigration control without causing human hardship or getting in the way of genuine refugees.

It's also important that a country's immigration policy helps rather than harms its own national interests as well. That's why when Edinburgh Festival Fringe approached me and other MPs last year on the issue of new immigration rules I was happy to take up their concerns with the UK Government.

The Fringe, and indeed many leading figures in the arts sector, had concerns that the points-based system (PBS), to be introduced later this year, would see performers facing thousands of pounds in charges. The new system is modelled on the Australian scheme and it replaces the present regime involving dozens of routes to work in the UK with a simplified five-tier system.

Under current rules, performers from countries such as the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, who play at festivals set out as being "permit free", do not need a visa to enter Britain. But the Edinburgh Fringe expressed concern that changes to the rules would have meant that many non-European performers would be required to purchase a visa and obtain a certificate of sponsorship – effectively a guarantee of good behaviour from their British promoter. And yet there is no evidence that there has been a problem with such performers trying to stay illegally in Britain after the festival is over.

3000 artists travel from outside Europe to perform at the Fringe each year and it was feared that the plans would have a damaging financial and administrative effect on the artists and the Fringe. Many arts companies couldn't have afforded the new fees, so would not have been able to take part.

I thought the Fringe had a very good case and one which I was happy to put to the Home Office on their behalf. I know that following the arguments put forward by many Scottish MPs, including myself, the Scottish Secretary Des Browne took up the issue with Home Office Ministers as well. He raised the issue of the potential impact of the changes on Scotland's sporting and cultural events. I am glad to say that the Government has now announced that those currently subject to existing concessions will be reclassified under a special visitor category, meaning there will be no need for sponsorship.

I believe it was right that the Government took this opportunity to support the future success and diversity of the Fringe. This decision will certainly cheer the hundreds of thousands of visitors each year who flock to our city. The decision also emphasises the value of consultation and the need to be flexible when looking at immigration rules.

Mark Lazarowicz is Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith