THE immigration debate which is raging between the main political parties in the run-up to the General Election is said by some to encourage bigotry.

But amid those claims, it should be also recognised that the debate serves to underline the economic benefits of foreign workers bringing their skills to Britain.

It is a welcome reminder that we must not overlook the fact that the National Health Service would fall apart without the many thousands of doctors and nurses from other countries.

Or that our schools would have much bigger classroom sizes without teachers from overseas bailing us out.

But there cannot be a free-for-all on immigration - it is not racist to say that it has to be properly managed.

We reject the Tory proposal of introducing quotas for asylum seekers. Every case must be treated on its merits.

But we agree that Britain needs a more formal system of assessing what contribution people planning to move to Britain can make.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke will unveil the details of the Government's proposed system today in a long-awaited five-year blueprint for immigration and asylum.

With focus group studies showing that immigration is one area in which Labour is lagging behind the Conservatives, it will be an important document which seeks to regain the initiative from the Opposition.

Whichever party forms the next Government, one of its most testing challenges will be to find the balance between being perceived to be tough on immigration while harnessing all the economic benefits of a properly managed system.