As demanded by many people in Bassetlaw, there are major changes now in how immigration is handled. In particular there will be compulsory identity cards for all foreign nationals who wish to work in the UK. I believe this will protect the interests of those from abroad as much as it does everyone else.

There has been a huge change in visa applications, requiring fingerprint checks and specialist visa sections rather than any British embassy. In today’s terrorist world such systems are long overdue.

To do nothing, as Britain has for decades, encourages illegal working under-cutting pay and conditions. It also encourages people smuggling, including drugs mules and prostitution. Often children are the victims.

I am going further. I have proposed a ban on prostitution under the age of 21, to protect children. This proposal is I believe now to be debated in Parliament. I will also be defying the government whips and voting today for the agency workers bill, to stop Polish and other agencies from undercutting the national minimum wage.

Perhaps most importantly, no new immigrant will be entitled to benefits in the future without having first paid British taxes. I believe this is right and proper.

There is one other change that can be made locally. The government has made clear that everyone working here should speak English. The government is calling on local council’s to stop translating materials into foreign languages. I agree. Health, schools and police matters are an exception, but there is far too much unnecessary translation- as the Bassetlaw bin fiasco demonstrated.

I welcome new workers to Britain. They keep our essential services going and it is they who tell me most strongly that our immigration system should be robust.

I applaud the mother from the South of England whose son died in a tragic skiing accident with his school in Switzerland. It must be horrific to lose ones 12 year old boy in this way. Instead of seeking blame, she has stated publicly that accidents happen and that nobody need take the blame. Such bravery and courage is a lesson to us all. In today’s blame culture, with a solicitor on every corner, we should all salute her.