Row over EU worker numbers

Friday, 27 May 2005 12:00 AM

News that some 176,000 workers from eastern and central Europe entered Britain since the expansion of the EU last May has opened up another row about immigration.

The Government had originally estimated that between 5,000 and 13,000 workers from the accession states would come to the UK annually.

The Conservatives say that the disparity shows the immigration system is in a mess, but the Government says that the higher numbers have had no effect on domestic employment levels.

Under the accession terms, workers from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland are allowed to work in the UK through the worker registration scheme.

According to the Home Office, eighty per cent of those applying for the scheme were aged 18-30 and more than nine out of ten had found full-time work.

Immigration Minister Tony McNulty said: "Workers are contributing to our economy, paying tax and national insurance and filling key jobs in areas where there are gaps.

"We estimate registered workers contributed approximately £500 million to the UK economy between May 2004 and March 2005."

Of the 176,000 applicants, over half (56 per cent) were Polish. A total of 15 per cent were from Lithuania, while Slovaks made up 11 per cent.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said that the new migrants were benefiting the economy and helping to fill skills shortages.

Chief economist Dr John Philpott, said: "There is a false impression that migrant workers are predominantly being shipped in to fill low skill, low wage jobs, but the reality is that it is professional and high skill vacancies that are fuelling the international search for labour."

He added: "Policy makers must make sure that they do not allow efforts to address public concerns about migration to result in legislation that will damage economic growth."

But Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that the latest figures showed that the Government's estimates were worthless.

Mr Davis said: "The estimates we were given relating to the impact of the scheme have proved worthless. This is further evidence that the system under Mr Blair is a total shambles.

"This Government believes there should be no upper limit on immigration. They must understand that there is a need to control immigration to restore confidence in the system."

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