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713,000 new foreign workers in UK 713,000 new foreign workers in UK
(20 minutes later)
The UK issued National Insurance numbers to 713,000 overseas nationals in the year to April 2007.The UK issued National Insurance numbers to 713,000 overseas nationals in the year to April 2007.
That number - which includes those who may be in the UK only for a short time - is more than twice the amount issued to non-UK nationals four years earlier. That number - which includes those who may be in the UK for a short time - is more than twice the amount issued to non-UK nationals four years earlier.
The figures include self-employed people as well as the employed workers who are counted in other surveys.The figures include self-employed people as well as the employed workers who are counted in other surveys.
The number working in the UK for the first time from new EU counties rose to 321,000 from 277,000 a year earlier. The number from new EU counties working in the UK for the first time rose to 321,000 from 277,000 a year earlier.
WHERE WORKERS ARE FROM New EU countries: 321,00Asia & Mid-East: 145,000Old EU countries: 103,000Africa: 61,000Aus & Oceania: 33,000 The Americas: 32,000Non-EU Europe: 16,000 Source: DWP figures on those registering for a National Insurance number in year to April 2007 REGIONS WORKERS ARE FROM New EU countries: 321,00Asia & Mid-East: 145,000Old EU countries: 103,000Africa: 61,000Aus & Oceania: 33,000 The Americas: 32,000Non-EU Europe: 16,000 Source: DWP figures on those registering for a National Insurance number in year to April 2007
Nearly a quarter of a million Polish people were given National Insurance number for the first time in 2006/7.Nearly a quarter of a million Polish people were given National Insurance number for the first time in 2006/7.
The Department for Work and Pensions figures show 583,000 of all the new National Insurance numbers were for people under the age of 35, with 35,000 more men than women.The Department for Work and Pensions figures show 583,000 of all the new National Insurance numbers were for people under the age of 35, with 35,000 more men than women.
National Insurance numbers are needed by anyone of working age who wants to work legally in the UK. The figures do not include dependents such as children.National Insurance numbers are needed by anyone of working age who wants to work legally in the UK. The figures do not include dependents such as children.
The figures also do not mean that there are now 713,000 more foreign workers in the UK than a year earlier, as the figures do not count those who leave the UK. Soames warning
The numbers of National Insurance numbers allocated to overseas nationals has increased from 349,000 in the year to April 2003. It does not mean that there are now 713,000 more foreign workers in the UK than a year earlier, as the figures do not count those who leave the UK.
In that year the largest place of origin for those workers - 114,000 - was Asia and the Middle East. The second largest source of new foreign workers were the 80,000 from the "old" European Union member countries. National Insurance numbers allocated to overseas nationals has increased from 349,000 in the year to April 2003.
In that year the largest place of origin for those workers - 114,000 - was Asia and the Middle East.
The second largest source of new foreign workers were the 80,000 from the "old" European Union member countries.
There are a variety of ways in which immigration is measured into the UK, although there is not one definitive one, and none include illegal immigrants.
Last week senior Conservative MP Nicholas Soames warned during a Commons debate of "profound changes" in British society and "dangerous shoals ahead" unless the UK cut immigration.
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN Poland: 222,000India: 49,000Slovak Repub: 28,000Pakistan: 25,000Australia: 24,000Lithuania: 24,000France: 20,000S.Africa: 16,000Germany 15,000China: 13,000 Source: DWP figures on NI numbers allocated in year to April 2007
During that debate shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the Conservatives would set an annual limit on the number of immigrants, to fit the country's economic requirement.
Immigration minister Liam Byrne said world migration had increased hugely, and there were many other countries who have had higher levels of immigration than the UK.
He said there was a "social impact" as well as an economic one and said the new points based work permit system being brought into force would limit immigration in line with economic need.
All three main parties have rejected calls for an amnesty for the estimated 600,000 illegal immigrants in the UK, although in the debate the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was "fanciful" to believe they could be deported.
Instead there should be a process by which they could work towards regularised status, he suggested.