In response to dramatic increases in recent immigration levels, the British government announced limits on low-skilled immigration from outside the EU.

It was reported the annual immigration level had grown to four times the number of immigrants in 1997. This is giving rise to concerns about assimilation, economic costs to the government, downward pressures on employment, etc. - all familiar themes in other "destination" countries.

As part of the debate, the number of illegal immigrants in the UK was estimated at 600,000.

No change in the nonimmigrant visa scheme was under consideration.