UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

Record numbers of work permits issued for migrants

Wednesday, 28 January 2009

More than 150,000 foreigners from outside the EU were allowed to work in the UK last year, a figure almost four times higher than when the Labour government took power in 1997.

Data given to MPs showed some 151,635 work permit applications were granted between December 2007 and November last year.

This represents a 17% increase on the 140,600 issued in 2007, and almost a four-fold rise on the 42,800 approved in 1997.

Indians received 49,950 work permits, the largest number among others, followed by 28,835 Americans and 8,090 workers from China.

More than one in four migrants with work permits were allowed to stay for up to five years, although 40% were for less than a year. Some 85 permits were approved for more than five years.

The applications were approved for migrants wanting to work & live in the UK or extensions for those already working here.

David Cameron, the Tory leader, said in a recent television interview:

"I think it was very important to make it clear that we believe in a multiracial Britain. We believe it's a success. We think immigration has been good for Britain in the past. We think immigration will continue, but not any immigration, not all immigration, it needs to be controlled."

A Home Office spokeswoman said:

"More than 90% of people working in this country are UK citizens and their rate of employment has remained stable."

"But when it comes to immigration, in difficult economic times we need a tough system. That's why we're using the flexibility that the new Points Based System allows to force employers to offer British jobs through Job Centre plus before recruiting foreign workers. And we're working together to get people the skills needed for these jobs to boost their chances even further."

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