A Coalition minister has called for an urgent cut in migration from Europe just days after the Scottish Government suggested more immigrants were needed north of the Border.

Home Secretary Theresa May also proposed limits on free movement within the EU for the citizens of poorer countries.

And, speaking at a dinner with other European leaders in Lithuania last night, David Cameron called for a debate on the issue.

The moves were in stark contrast to Scottish Government plans to liberalise controls on those coming to Scotland under independence, including allowing more students to stay on after their studies.

Mrs May's comments follow new figures which show net migration to the UK rose over the last 12 months.

The Coalition has a target to cut migration to "tens of thousands". But official statistics show a rise from 167,000 to 182,000 over the past year, driven by workers from EU states such as Spain.

Ministers are also concerned about the impact of lifting ­restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians coming to the UK on January 1.

Mrs May said: "Whatever the Government does in terms of reducing the factors that draw people to Britain, as long as there is such an enormous disparity between EU member states in terms of income per head, there will be an overwhelming incentive for people to move from poorer member states to richer member states.

"In future, we must put in place new arrangements to slow full access to each other's labour markets until we can be sure it will not lead to mass migration."

"This could, for example, be achieved by requiring new member states to reach a certain level of income or economic output per head before full free movement is allowed. "

This week's White Paper said that the current UK immigration system does not served Scotland's interests.

It outlined plans including a points-based immigration system, alongside a reduction in the income threshold and minimum salary levels required.

A Scottish Government spokesman said the administration rejects the UK Government's negative rhetoric about migrants.

"The damage the UK Government's immigration policies could do to Scotland has been made clear to them by Scottish Ministers, business, employers, universities, and the NHS."