Priti Patel is now on the stage in the hall, chairing a panel discussion on skills as part of the work and pensions session of the conference.

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Employment minister Priti Patel talks about tax credits and benefits, the state of the UK economy and reported comments by Jeremy Hunt about how hard British people work.

She spoke to Jo Coburn from the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

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The government should be looking to "reduce the deficit more quickly" says Tory MP Liam Fox, who was also asked about his reported comments on cutting benefits.

The former defence secretary was asked about possible future changes to welfare and tax levels, and his call to cut the UK's aid budget. He also spoke to Andrew Neil at the Conservative Party conference about Middle East policy and the UK's future in - or out - of the EU.

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Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb says the government was given a mandate at the election to "strengthen our borders" and address legitimate public concerns about levels of immigration and their impact.

While he says he did not listen to Theresa May's speech earlier, the rhetoric of which has been criticised by business groups - he insists the home secretary "does not have a bone in her body...which would vilify people from overseas" and she has a serious job to do to keep the UK safe.

Party conference business is due to resume at 14:30 BST. Speeches are expected from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The CBI has formally responded to Theresa May's comments in her conference speech about the negative impact of immigration. While not as outspoken in their criticism as the Institute of Directors, the employers' group argues that "skilled migration has been positive for the UK economy, ensuring firms have access to the expertise they need to succeed". Its director general John Cridland added:

The World at One
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Image source, PA

Political journalists Isabel Hardman and Beth Rigby have been discussing the Conservative succession on the World at One. Both agree that George Osborne is the clear frontrunner to follow David Cameron when he stands down, with a "strong parliamentary base" that none of the other candidates have. Beth Rigby says Boris Johnson needs to inject "more gravitas" into his political approach and, when he steps down as London mayor, will be looking to take on a big department to show he can master policy detail. As for Theresa May, Beth Rigby says there is a feeling her time may have passed by 2019 and someone from the 2010 intake of MPs could pose more of a threat. While Isabel Hardman says Sajid Javid - a protege of George Osborne - has had a pretty low-key conference and would probably like to be the next chancellor, they both note Nicky Morgan's ambition and her willingness to help out other MPs with education-related issues. 

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The home secretary's interview now moves onto asylum policy, which she says was a neglected part of her speech. Asked how many refugees the UK has taken from Syria so far as part of its commitment to take 20,000 over the next five years, Mrs May declines to give a specific figure. She rejects comparisons with Germany, which is on course to take 800,000 alone this year, saying many of those are not coming directly from Syria and the UK is deliberately taking a different approach. She says it is "right for the UK to take the most vulnerable - those from refugee camps". 

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Asked whether it was time to abandon the government's net migration target, the home secretary acknowledges it has not been met but says it is there for "good reasons" and that is what the public is concerned about. She says the reasons for missing the target include so-called "pull factors" incentivising migrants to come and the number of students coming on a legitimate visa but then "over-staying" - she says student visas should not be a "back door" to working or settling in the UK. She defends the overall tone of the speech, which has been criticised by business groups and sections of the media, saying it is in line with her approach towards immigration over the past five years.

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Home Secretary Theresa May tells the BBC's World at One that the public are worried about the combination of "high" and "uncontrolled" immigration. Asked whether the government can do anything while it remains within the EU, she says the UK can already "exercise a degree of control" over who comes in, including from Europe. Going forward, she says benefits should be reformed to increase more emphasis on a contributory principle. She says she is confident David Cameron will be able to negotiate a "good package" as part of the wider negotiation of the UK's membership. 

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CBI driector general John Cridland says the government's net migration target (to reduce it from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands) should be abandoned, saying it is "wrong" and unlikely to be achieved.

The government should also focus on the areas the public are concerned about  - such as those wrongly claiming asylum or seeking benefits. 

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We've heard that the IoD is very unhappy aboput Mrs May's speech. But what about the business organisation the CBI? Its director general John Cridland says economic migrants "add to the wellness of society". He accepts there are social implications - such as pressures on public services - but concludes that "economic migration is positive for society".

David Cameron has told the BBC Boris Johnson's conference speech was "excellent", and rated it "nine out of 10".

The Institute of Directors - which is holding its annual conference in London today - has given its verdict on Mrs May's speech, and it's fair to say it's not pleased with what she had to say. Director general Simon Walker said: