A new immigration system will be in place by March 2019 when the free movement of people between the EU and the UK ends, a minister has said.

Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis was speaking as the government commissioned a "detailed assessment" of the costs and benefits of EU migrants.

That report is expected in September 2018, six months before Brexit.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd earlier reassured firms there would be no "cliff edge" on immigration.

Writing in the Financial Times she said the UK would continue to attract "the brightest and the best" migrants from around the world - with the newspaper suggesting a work permit system for Europeans was being considered.

The CBI said businesses "urgently" needed to know what EU migration would look like, both in any "transitional" period after March 2019 and beyond.

Ministers have also promised an "extensive" consultation to listen to the views of businesses, unions and universities.

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