Beverley Hughes

The government's new fast-track work permit system for highly-skilled people has so far benefited over 300 people, according to the Home Office.

In the past five months the new scheme has permitted 338 migrants to work in the UK, including professionals such as doctors, scientists and computer specialists.

The government argues that allowing such people into the UK boosts Britain's skills base and helps tackle recruitment shortfalls facing organisations such as the health service.

Immigration minister Beverley Hughes said that migrants "contribute a great deal to our society".

The Home Office also released details of research by the migration research unit of University College London, which showed that Britain was leading the way in attracting highly-skilled immigrants.

The UK had moved "faster and further" than almost any other states and was processing work permits faster than any of the other countries, the research found.

Hughes said that making it easier for people to come to Britain legally would help cut abuse of the asylum system.

"Properly managed migration is a key part of our overall immigration policy. By allowing people to come and work here legally in ways which boost our businesses, we can help reduce illegal working, illegal immigration and abuse of the asylum system," she said.

"We are an open, trading nation. Migrants contribute a great deal to our society and we are keen to encourage people to come and work here in ways which help our economy grow.

"In a modern, global economy it is essential that we are able to attract the skills that we need for businesses and our economy to flourish. As today's research shows, the UK is a world leader in devising innovative and effective ways of bringing in global talent," she said.

The Highly-Skilled Migrants Programme came into effect on January 28 this year, allowing people to apply for work permits without the need for an employer to sponsor their application.

A points system is used to assess the qualifications, experience and earning ability of the applicant.

The government is now examining ways to extend the scheme to low-skilled seasonal jobs such as fruit picking.

"We need a range of skills levels, of course, and the government is working to open up managed migration routes right across the skills range," Hughes said.

"We have overhauled the work permit system, doubled the number of work permits issued and are consulting on bringing in more short-term foreign workers to meet recruitment difficulties in industries with seasonal labour demands."