Integration

[cambus]

With about 2 million refugees expected to arrive here, due to the state of emergency in Pakistan, will there be enough housing and jobs for them all?

[China Doll]

With the impending building work on the greenbelt in the south east and the fact that they'll be loaded from all the benefits they'll recieve as well as working then yes, I'm confident they'll be just fine and will give those chavy people on estates something to aspire to.

[squarebear]

But why are they coming here when there are dozens of countries between us and Pakistan? Surely, if it's an emergency they would be happy to just get into any safe land?

[jake-the-peg]

Source?

I make that nearly 5,000 747s - at say 10 a day that's 18 months

Or are you expecting them next Thursday?

[naomi24]

And not only housing and jobs. What about schools and hospitals which are already buckling under the strain?

[China Doll]

Well people from pakistan are stereotypically quite clever so their kids will probably be steets ahead of ours and we'll have even more doctors. Everyone's a winner as far as I can see.

[Kromovaracun]

What about schools and hospitals which are already buckling under the strain?

Public hospitals aren't 'buckling under the strain' - they're just administered ineffectively. Plus schools are rather variable depending on location. There is an annoying media tendency to portray public services as in crisis or on the verge of total collapse but they're not really much worse than they have been (which isn't exactly great, to be fair, but I'd sooner have them there than not).

[Bewlay Bros]

Surely there are not enough trains, tubes and London buses for them to blow up.

Where will they turn their attention next?

[anotheoldgit]

Once again we see them on this site "Fiddling While England Burns"

Is there no hope?

[jake-the-peg]

Still not got a source for this story.

Could it be another made-up story from Cambus like Thomas the Tank Engine and the Commission of Racial Equality?

Is it Jackanory time again?

[Kromovaracun]

Once again we see them on this site "Fiddling While England Burns"

But it's true. Notice Gerry Robinson's actions in one hospital in which he slashed waiting times by doing nothing except reforming management on the ground. A glance through one of Simon Jenkins' books will also give a good (if rather exhaustive) account of the effects of over-centralisation on the health service.

[jno]

I expect they will open corner shops, though I'm not quite clear if there are indeed 2 million corners in the country. But as CD suggests, more corners can easily be created when they concrete over the green belt.

[sp1814]

Good Lord.

Not a single refugee has arrived, yet Chicken Little is up running around, with his tail feathers on fire.

My grandad who fought in WWII would be ashamed...and perplexed.

[jno]

Jake, AB is the prime source for great stories like this.

[naomi24]

Krom, we know that mismanagement is the reason for the state of our hospitals, but more patients won't help the situation. Anyway, I think Cambus is up to his tricks again, so I'm off. Byeee.

[wired]

Perhaps sp1814s grandpa wouldn't be qite so perplexed, so many members of the armed forces came home to few or no home comforts, where did the necessity for prefabs come from. There is plenty of empty or unused housing
in London, I'm sure the PM could find space for everyone.

[Kromovaracun]

Krom, we know that mismanagement is the reason for the state of our hospitals, but more patients won't help the situation.

They won't hinder it either. Although it does add a bit, I really don't accept this odd view that immigration is causing a tsunami of people to crash down on our feeble services. Particularly not when considered at a national level.

[Dassie]

Krom....odd view ? You should try working in a certain Government department like I did to see what effect an increase in immigration has on service. Cannot cope so people are put in positions with little training so they can make a bigger mess than existed before....trust me. Been there, done that.......and got out quickly whilst I was still sane!! Ever known an employer ( least of all Govt ) to give all staff an extra 3days leave because of the strain they had to take to keep up appearances!

[cambus]

I think we are worrying unduly here.
As has already been said, there is a surplus of greenbelt land that will be suitable for housing and schools.
A few tweaks here and there, will bring health and transport services up to scratch.
It is excellent news for our ever expanding economy, which will provide jobs and wealth for us all.
Some people may resent this, but in todays fast changing world, we must accept change for the good of our country, and not fill our minds with racist thoughts.

[Dassie]

Yeah right...............

If the story wasn't a joke, I'd have to say you need to re-think your position.

[Kromovaracun]

Look - as I've demonstrated above, the problem is due to management. If what you're saying true regarding immigrants, then none of Robinson's measures, for instance, would have worked (because even the best management couldn't cope with what your describing - but did in practice). I'm not denying that an extra influx does place extra strein on a health service, but it's hardly an enormous difference. If you were theoretically to remove all immigrant use of the health service - the strein on it would in practice be only ever so slightly reduced (and would solve none of the problems with it). And when you take the figures at a national level (i.e. bear in mind what that'll mean for individual hospitals on the ground), it doesn't amount to much.

With the right kind of changes (as Robinson demonstrated quite clearly), the NHS would be able to cope with demand quite effectively, irrespective of extra numbers.