Prime Minister David Cameron will pledge to double to £20k the maximum fine for companies that hire illegal immigrants, in a speech to be delivered at lunchtime today, according to various media reports.

He will also suggest that immigrants must prove that they have a “genuine chance of finding work” in order to claim benefits.

The crackdown would also see access to public services such as the NHS restricted to avoid the country’s welfare system being a “soft touch”.

This comes after a speech by Cameron's deputy Nick Clegg on Friday [22 March] suggested a system whereby some immigrants pay a deposit on their way into the country, returnable upon exit – something Recruiter hears could be left to be paid by recruitment firms or end employers.