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| Eastern European migration falls | Eastern European migration falls |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The number of immigrants entering the UK from Central and Eastern Europe has continued to fall, according to the latest figures. | The number of immigrants entering the UK from Central and Eastern Europe has continued to fall, according to the latest figures. |
| Provisional numbers from the Office for National Statistics suggest the number of people from these countries fell by a third in the year to June 2009. | Provisional numbers from the Office for National Statistics suggest the number of people from these countries fell by a third in the year to June 2009. |
| There were 68,000 new arrivals from the new European Union states, compared with 100,000 in the year to June 2008. | There were 68,000 new arrivals from the new European Union states, compared with 100,000 in the year to June 2008. |
| Figures show there was little change in long-term immigration or emigration. | Figures show there was little change in long-term immigration or emigration. |
| Officials said that just over half a million people came to the UK in the year to June 2009 - and about 370,000 left, meaning a net increase of the population of about 147,000. | Officials said that just over half a million people came to the UK in the year to June 2009 - and about 370,000 left, meaning a net increase of the population of about 147,000. |
| The statistics also show that the number of asylum seekers has fallen significantly for the second quarter. | The statistics also show that the number of asylum seekers has fallen significantly for the second quarter. |
| In the three months until the end of 2009, there were 4,765 asylum applications, down 30% on the same period of 2008. | In the three months until the end of 2009, there were 4,765 asylum applications, down 30% on the same period of 2008. |
| The number of unauthorised migrants who were either deported or voluntarily left the UK in 2009 was 64,750 - about 3,000 less than in the previous year. | The number of unauthorised migrants who were either deported or voluntarily left the UK in 2009 was 64,750 - about 3,000 less than in the previous year. |
| Other figures show that the number of people seeking British citizenship rose by almost a third in the last quarter of 2009, reaching 51,315. | Other figures show that the number of people seeking British citizenship rose by almost a third in the last quarter of 2009, reaching 51,315. |
| WORKER REGISTRATION SCHEME APPLICATIONS 2009: 113,4452008: 166,7002007: 217,975 Source: National Statistics | WORKER REGISTRATION SCHEME APPLICATIONS 2009: 113,4452008: 166,7002007: 217,975 Source: National Statistics |
| Almost 45,000 people who had applied were granted a British passport over the same three months - and 204,000 people became citizens over the course of the year. | Almost 45,000 people who had applied were granted a British passport over the same three months - and 204,000 people became citizens over the course of the year. |
| The government uses a variety of statistics to monitor immigration rates, including the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) which counts economic migrants from eight central and eastern European members of the EU. | The government uses a variety of statistics to monitor immigration rates, including the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) which counts economic migrants from eight central and eastern European members of the EU. |
| There were 28,495 WRS applications in the last quarter of the year - down slightly on the previous year - and almost half the rate in the last three months of 2007. | There were 28,495 WRS applications in the last quarter of the year - down slightly on the previous year - and almost half the rate in the last three months of 2007. |
| The number of approved workers from Poland fell to 12,125, down from 16,970 in the previous year - but that was offset by a rise in applications from Latvian and Lithuanian workers. | The number of approved workers from Poland fell to 12,125, down from 16,970 in the previous year - but that was offset by a rise in applications from Latvian and Lithuanian workers. |
| Separate figures for the number of National Insurance numbers - meaning people who are probably employed and paying tax - show there were 186,000 issued for central and Eastern European workers in the year to June 2009. | Separate figures for the number of National Insurance numbers - meaning people who are probably employed and paying tax - show there were 186,000 issued for central and Eastern European workers in the year to June 2009. |
| BRITISH JOBS FOR... I don't dislike [foreign workers]... they're a good bunch of lads but I still think they are taking Englishmen's jobs. Terry Garner, British worker in BBC experiment Are jobless Brits scared by hard work? | BRITISH JOBS FOR... I don't dislike [foreign workers]... they're a good bunch of lads but I still think they are taking Englishmen's jobs. Terry Garner, British worker in BBC experiment Are jobless Brits scared by hard work? |
| That was 36% down than the previous year. The Office for National Statistics said the number of National Insurance numbers issued to these EU workers has continued to fall since then. | That was 36% down than the previous year. The Office for National Statistics said the number of National Insurance numbers issued to these EU workers has continued to fall since then. |
| Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the figures meant the government deserved credit for managing the system well. | Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the figures meant the government deserved credit for managing the system well. |
| "We're getting on top of things," he said. "The border control at Calais is the strongest it's ever been. We've got new legal strategies in place to separate economic migration from asylum - which means we're seeing a substantial fall. | "We're getting on top of things," he said. "The border control at Calais is the strongest it's ever been. We've got new legal strategies in place to separate economic migration from asylum - which means we're seeing a substantial fall. |
| "And I think the third reason is that the message is going round the world that Britain is not a soft touch." | "And I think the third reason is that the message is going round the world that Britain is not a soft touch." |
| But Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green said: "We see that everything else is going up. | But Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green said: "We see that everything else is going up. |
| "Most dramatically student numbers up by 30%, the number of work visas issued is up as well, and the number of people who've come here in the last few years who are settling here are up as well. | "Most dramatically student numbers up by 30%, the number of work visas issued is up as well, and the number of people who've come here in the last few years who are settling here are up as well. |
| "So what we're seeing - and these are the last set of immigration figures we get before a general election - is that throughout the period of this Labour government immigration has, broadly speaking, been out of control." | "So what we're seeing - and these are the last set of immigration figures we get before a general election - is that throughout the period of this Labour government immigration has, broadly speaking, been out of control." |
| Chris Huhne for the Liberal Democrats said: "Public confidence and trust in the migration system has been shattered by decades of mismanagement. | Chris Huhne for the Liberal Democrats said: "Public confidence and trust in the migration system has been shattered by decades of mismanagement. |
| "People overstaying on short-term visas are probably the biggest source of illegal immigration and we still cannot say whether they are leaving when they are meant to do so." | "People overstaying on short-term visas are probably the biggest source of illegal immigration and we still cannot say whether they are leaving when they are meant to do so." |