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UK work visa bids reach 800,000 | UK work visa bids reach 800,000 |
(30 minutes later) | |
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. | 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. | But the statistics do not include the self-employed or those from Romania and Bulgaria, which joined the EU later. |
Last year we deported someone every eight minutes Immigration Minister Liam Byrne | |
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. |