A RESIDENTIAL permit scheme is under investigation. The strategic population and migration policy aims to keep the number of residents at 60,000 over the next 60 years by allowing a net inward migration of 200 people per year.

But few controls exist on the desirability of those entering.

Home minister Mike Torode said introducing a permit was being investigated, among other options.

‘I hope we might be able to find something that will satisfy the majority of people in the island and me,’ he said.

Deputy Torode added that there was complete freedom of movement within the European Union, although not to work.

‘If they come here, have lawful housing, which might mean open market or hotel staff quarters, then there’s nothing very much we can do except keep our eye open for the person who is already a fugitive from justice who we can pick up and expel without too much trouble.’

Deputy Torode said that the last thing the island wanted was to import people with a string of serious convictions.

‘There are very few controls we are able to impose, really there are none. The only thing that could be done at the moment is that the Housing Department can take a judgement on someone who applies for a housing licence.’

But many people coming in do not need a licence because they live in open market or in staff accommodation.

Deputy Torode was concerned that people leaving the island did not have to surrender their housing licence, leading to problems with monitoring figures.

He had a pragmatic attitude to the 60,000 target.

‘I think a lot of people in Guernsey, I won’t disagree, think it is overpopulated in terms of people per square mile. They would be very happy for that population not to increase.

‘If anything, in their ideal world they would like to see it decrease to take away some of the perceived overcrowding, the over-demand on social services. But it’s not going to happen.’

About 4,000 people enter and the same number leave the island each year.

If net migration did not occur, projections show the population shrinking by more than a quarter in the next 60 years.

‘You have to bear in mind that people are living longer, there are more youngsters staying on in further education and we’re putting the school leaving age up to 16 next year.

‘There are going to be more and more people dependent on fewer and fewer people to provide the wherewithal to keep them in their old age.’