'Migrants could fill skills gap' says Lord Digby Jones

The UK government should look to recruit skilled immigrants to plug a current shortfall in Wales, an ex-trade minister has said.

Lord Digby Jones said just under half of UK 16-year-olds have the same educational standards as 11-year-olds.

The former head of the CBI said that if people have a skill, they should be employed regardless of where in the world they come from.

A Home Office spokesman said: "In the past it has been too easy for some employers to bring in workers from overseas rather than to take the long-term decision to train our workforce here at home.

"As the prime minister said in parliament, we need to do more to change that, which means reducing the demand for migrant labour. That is why we have commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to provide advice on significantly reducing economic migration from outside the EU.

"Our reforms will ensure that employers are able to attract the skilled migrants they need, but we also want them to get far better at recruiting and training UK workers first."

He speaks to BBC Radio Wales' Oliver Hides.