UK can ease immigration for key sectors in ‘short term,’ says British Treasury chief

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - The British government can ease immigration restrictions for key sectors in the short term, Jeremy Hunt, the Treasury chief, said on Wednesday.

"We will, at the margins, always be pragmatic," he said in his address at the British Chambers of Commerce conference in London.

"So for example, we put care homes on the shortage occupation list, some construction industry sectors, and we will keep talking to all of you about where there are short-term challenges," he said.

He also said tackling inflation should be a top priority for the government.

Hunt emphasizes that reducing inflation is not a guaranteed outcome and expresses government support for the Bank of England's efforts to bring it back to the target rate of 2%.

In March, the annual consumer price inflation rate in the UK saw a slight decline to 10.1% but marked the seventh consecutive period in which the rate remained above 10%.