[attach id=252825 size="medium"]Badge on UK Border Agency officer’s uniform. Photo: AP[/attach]

A stricter regime to keep immigration in the UK under control will see foreigners’ access to healthcare regulated and deportation accelerated.

A new Immigration Bill – a centre piece to legislation in the Queen’s Speech – will make it easier to remove people from the UK by limiting rights to appeal and tightening the use of human rights law.

The reforms are unveiled as the issue of immigration becomes increasingly contentious, inflamed by the battle to deport radical cleric Abu Qatada and fears over a potential influx from Romania and Bulgaria at the end of the year.

And the proposals come as the UK Independence Party (Ukip), which campaigns heavily on immigration issues, enjoys a surge in support.

Bill will introduce tough measures on illegal labour

The Speech said: “My Government will bring forward a Bill that further reforms Britain’s immigration system. The Bill will ensure that this country attracts people who will contribute and deter those who will not.”

To ensure temporary immigrants make a contribution, the Bill will regulate migrants’ access to the NHS.

While it is unclear how this would be implemented, doctors warned against the danger of turning general practitioners into a form of immigration control.

To limit immigrants’ access to services, the Bill will introduce tough measures against businesses that use illegal labour, including more substantial fines.

Meanwhile, private landlords will be required to check the immigration status of their tenants and measures will be introduced to stop illegal immigrants getting a UK driving licence.

Tammy Parnell, managing partner at QualitySolicitors Clapham and Collinge, in Norwich, said measures aimed at tackling landlords who rent property to illegal immigrants will make renting out properties less attractive.

She said: “It will add to the cost and regulation around property rental, and may catch out landlords who innocently rent properties out to unscrupulous tenants.

“Furthermore, confusion will arise about the checks landlords are required and able to carry out – how easy is it to recognise whether a visa document is genuine? And what would happen if a tenant’s visa expired during the course of the tenancy?”