UK work visa bids reach 800,000
Nearly 800,000 eastern Europeans have applied to work in the UK after the expansion of the European Union four years ago, new figures have shown.
The Home Office also claimed the research shows someone was deported from the country “every eight minutes”.
It focuses on Poland and seven other ex-Soviet states that joined the European Union (EU).
Asylum applications in 2007 were also shown to be at their lowest level for 14 years, the figures indicate. But the statistics do not include the self-employed or those from Romania and Bulgaria, which joined the EU later.
There have been a total of 796,000 applications for UK work permits from the so-called “A8 countries” - the eight poorest eastern European countries that joined the EU in may 2004. Of these applications, 766,000 were approved.
In relation to social security benefits, the Home Office figures showed just over 89,000 immigrants from these countries are claiming child benefit.
In addition, there were 4,900 successful applications for income support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or state pension, and 51,500 immigrants are claiming tax credits.
Separate Government data showed that following the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania into the EU at the start of this year, a further 30,570 people from those countries have been granted work permits in Britain.
‘Priorities straight’
There has, however, been a decline in asylum applications, the Home Office said.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:
[The] figures prove that last year we deported someone every eight minutes - and we got our priorities straight.
We deported the highest ever number of foreign law-breakers - up by a huge 80% - and we attacked illegal working much harder because it undercuts British wages, with 40% more illegal working operations.
The so-called A8 countries are: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
bbc.co.uk
Tags: Immigration news