 "UK bond scheme will only be applicable to few")
Danny Alexander, chief secretary of the treasury, United Kingdom today indicated that if the controversial visa bond scheme for countries like India comes into place, it would be applicable to only a few set of applicants and would be gainful to those applicants who are getting now. He also batted for staying of UK within the European Union, while amid talks about a referendum in this regard.
The UK government was planning £ 3,000 bond for visitors from six high-risk countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana.
The scheme was to discourage those who enter UK on tourist visas and stay on illegally. “As of now, nothing is in place. This is focused on a small portion only,” said Alexander said. He added that this would be helpful for those applicants who are getting rejected now, "as 90 per cent of all the applicants get visas now."
When asked about the talks of the present coalition government coming up with a referendum on whether UK would stay back with the EU, if gets re-elected, he said, “None of us wish Britain leave European Union. I am confident that it will stay with EU.”
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Meanwhile, he also said that for countries like Indian and Britain to get out of the economic turmoil need to expand business with countries around the world, by further opening up economies.