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| Migrants 'benefit economy little' | Migrants 'benefit economy little' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The contribution of immigrants to the UK economy is "very slight indeed" and the main benefits are the immigrants themselves, a pressure group has said. | The contribution of immigrants to the UK economy is "very slight indeed" and the main benefits are the immigrants themselves, a pressure group has said. |
| Migrationwatch UK says the economic benefit is equal to 4p a week for each person in Britain. | |
| Its chairman Sir Andrew Green accused Whitehall of trying to divert attention from the problems caused by migration. | Its chairman Sir Andrew Green accused Whitehall of trying to divert attention from the problems caused by migration. |
| A Home Office spokesman said there was "a clear consensus" that migrants had helped the economy to grow. | A Home Office spokesman said there was "a clear consensus" that migrants had helped the economy to grow. |
| The government says that migration has increased output by £4bn and accounts for 10 to 15% of economic growth. | The government says that migration has increased output by £4bn and accounts for 10 to 15% of economic growth. |
| But Migrationwatch UK says figures show immigration's benefits to the UK are far lower than claimed. | |
| The main beneficiaries are the immigrants themselves who are able to send home about £10m a day, not the host nation Sir Andrew Green, Migrationwatch UK | |
| The group also analysed a series of reports on the economic impact of immigration and concluded: "The much vaunted contribution of immigrants to the economy is very slight indeed." | The group also analysed a series of reports on the economic impact of immigration and concluded: "The much vaunted contribution of immigrants to the economy is very slight indeed." |
| Sir Andrew said: "Of course many immigrants make a useful contribution to the economy but taken in total the economic benefit is at best marginal. | Sir Andrew said: "Of course many immigrants make a useful contribution to the economy but taken in total the economic benefit is at best marginal. |
| "The main beneficiaries are the immigrants themselves who are able to send home about £10m a day, not the host nation." | "The main beneficiaries are the immigrants themselves who are able to send home about £10m a day, not the host nation." |
| He added: "The government seek to present the record immigration levels as being nothing but good news for the host community as a means of deflecting attention from some of the many problems it is causing, and to neutralise the deep public disquiet they know is out there." | He added: "The government seek to present the record immigration levels as being nothing but good news for the host community as a means of deflecting attention from some of the many problems it is causing, and to neutralise the deep public disquiet they know is out there." |
| 'Cheap points' | 'Cheap points' |
| But Susan Anderson of the Confederation of British Industry said: "Migrationwatch is seeking to score a few cheap political points with these figures. | |
| "Migrants to the UK bring valuable skills and ideas with them and help to fill job vacancies where Britons are unable or unwilling to do so. | "Migrants to the UK bring valuable skills and ideas with them and help to fill job vacancies where Britons are unable or unwilling to do so. |
| "Their taxes help pay for our public services and our pensions, long after many migrants have returned home. | "Their taxes help pay for our public services and our pensions, long after many migrants have returned home. |
| "Their presence also helps keep inflation low at a time when there are many forces pushing the other way." | "Their presence also helps keep inflation low at a time when there are many forces pushing the other way." |
| Last December, the Ernst and Young Item Club, an influential economic forecasting body that uses Treasury models, estimated that immigration had brought in an extra £12bn to £18bn in tax since 1998. Eastern European workers were reducing the UK's trade deficit by an extra £1bn every year, it stressed. | Last December, the Ernst and Young Item Club, an influential economic forecasting body that uses Treasury models, estimated that immigration had brought in an extra £12bn to £18bn in tax since 1998. Eastern European workers were reducing the UK's trade deficit by an extra £1bn every year, it stressed. |
| In the same month a fresh Bank of England analysis suggested the effect of new migrants was complex. | In the same month a fresh Bank of England analysis suggested the effect of new migrants was complex. |
| While they were highly educated, they were also working in more low skilled jobs, it said. Some of these migrants may also be replacing low-skilled UK workers in certain jobs, although more data was needed. | While they were highly educated, they were also working in more low skilled jobs, it said. Some of these migrants may also be replacing low-skilled UK workers in certain jobs, although more data was needed. |
| Consensus | Consensus |
| A spokesman for the Home Office said there was clear evidence of migration's benefits. | A spokesman for the Home Office said there was clear evidence of migration's benefits. |
| "Independent research has found migrants make a net contribution to the Exchequer," said a spokesman ""We have seen a large movement of people from the EU coming here to work. | "Independent research has found migrants make a net contribution to the Exchequer," said a spokesman ""We have seen a large movement of people from the EU coming here to work. |
| "There is a clear consensus from commentators, business and our own research that this has helped the economy to grow. There is no evidence that it has increased unemployment." | "There is a clear consensus from commentators, business and our own research that this has helped the economy to grow. There is no evidence that it has increased unemployment." |
| David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said the Migrationwatch figures sharply contrasted to those of the government. | |
| "Immigration can be a real benefit to the country but only if it is properly controlled," he said. | "Immigration can be a real benefit to the country but only if it is properly controlled," he said. |
| "You need to have accurate information about its level and effects. The government patently has neither." | "You need to have accurate information about its level and effects. The government patently has neither." |