The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended plans to charge migrants more for their visas as a way of helping communities in Kent deal with the potential impact of their arrival.

Under a two-year Government plan, migrants from outside EU countries will pay an additional £50 for their visas, with the cash going to areas which are struggling to cope with any influx.

It is unclear exactly how much Kent could qualify for from the estimated £70million that is expected to be raised over the two-year scheme, but the south east will qualify for about £3.3million.

Ms Smith rejected complaints from the Conservatives that it was a publicity stunt.

In an exclusive article for the Kent Messenger Group, she said: "The Government has listened to communities across the country, and recognises the concerns they’ve raised and we have taken action which will allow us to focus help quickly where it’s needed most."

It was right to ask migrants to pay extra to meet some of the additional costs incurredby councils, the health service and police, she added.

But shadow communities and local government secretary, Caroline Spelman, said: "For a long time councils have been asking for recognition of the pressures put on local services by uncontrolled immigration, for them this announcement may well be too little too late.

"Rather than tackling the real pressures on local services I fear this announcement is designed to get a headline."

Read Ms Smith's article in full below.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith writes for KMG about the Migration Impacts Fund:

"Welcoming migrants to Britain has always played an important part in our way of life, and the contribution of these newcomers has made our economy and culture stronger.

But that does not mean I am not aware of the impact migration can have on our communities, our schools, hospitals and police forces.

The Government has listened to communities across the country, and recognises the concerns they’ve raised and we have taken action which will allow us to focus help quickly where it’s needed most.

That is why I am pleased the Government is launching a fund worth £70 million over two years to help deal with the impacts of migration.

In the South East £3,269,403 is being made available, paid for by migrants – we are asking them to pay a extra when they make a visa application – because we think it is right that migrants should contribute to the communities in which they live allowing the Government to ensure extra money is available for your local schools, hospitals and police.

This cash boost comes on top of the action we have already taken to control the numbers coming here and make sure migra.tion works for the country as a whole.

Last month we announced a tightening of the points-based system for foreign workers. We’ve raised the bar to entry for highly skilled migrants and said that employers must have advertised skilled jobs for two weeks in a Jobcentre Plus before they can offer it to a foreign worker.

These two changes will mean that only those who make the biggest economic contribution or are filling jobs that people here do not want can come here.

We are also working with the police to come down harder on foreign criminals, remove those who cause most harm in our communities, and taking action against rogue employers who hire illegal workers.

Newcomers have to be clear, there is no automatic right to stay in the UK unless they speak English, pay taxes and obey the law. Migration only works if it benefits everyone – and we are going to make sure that is what happens."