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East European immigration slows East European immigration slows
(about 1 hour later)
The number of Eastern European workers registering in the UK has dropped for the second quarter in a row.The number of Eastern European workers registering in the UK has dropped for the second quarter in a row.
Official figures show 50,000, mostly Polish applicants, registered to work between April and June 2007.Official figures show 50,000, mostly Polish applicants, registered to work between April and June 2007.
Some 9,600 Bulgarians and Romanians also registered under the tighter rules affecting those two EU members.Some 9,600 Bulgarians and Romanians also registered under the tighter rules affecting those two EU members.
The Home Office says it met a 2006 target for removing failed asylum seekers - but more recent figures suggest it is now missing it again. The Home Office says it met a 2006 target for removing failed asylum seekers - but new figures suggest it has missed it over the last 12 months.
On Eastern European workers, figures show a cumulative total of 683,000 applicants from nations which joined the EU after May 2004 - but that the rate of arrivals had slowed in 2007.On Eastern European workers, figures show a cumulative total of 683,000 applicants from nations which joined the EU after May 2004 - but that the rate of arrivals had slowed in 2007.
Between April and June 2007 there were 50,000 applications to join the UK's worker registration scheme compared with 52,000 in the first three months of the year and 65,000 in the last three months of 2006.Between April and June 2007 there were 50,000 applications to join the UK's worker registration scheme compared with 52,000 in the first three months of the year and 65,000 in the last three months of 2006.
Some 66% of the applications have been Polish, a trend which has continued month-by-month in 2007. About 8% of the workers have dependants including children.Some 66% of the applications have been Polish, a trend which has continued month-by-month in 2007. About 8% of the workers have dependants including children.
Bulgarian and Romanian workers were not allowed free access to the UK when the two nations joined in January 2007 - and figures show only 9,565 people from both nations applied to come to the UK between April and June 2007.Bulgarian and Romanian workers were not allowed free access to the UK when the two nations joined in January 2007 - and figures show only 9,565 people from both nations applied to come to the UK between April and June 2007.
RemovalsRemovals
Separate figures for asylum seekers show the number of people refused asylum who were removed from Britain in the second quarter of the year fell by 6% compared with the previous three months - and was down 38% on the same quarter a year go. Separate figures for asylum seekers show the number of people refused asylum who were removed from Britain in the second quarter of the year fell by 6% compared with the previous three months - and is the lowest level for five years.
REMOVING FAILED ASYLUM SEEKERS The government said it hit the target in 2006 but figures suggest it is again missing it We have said we will double resources for immigration policing and last year we delivered record removals Home Office minister Tony McNulty
In September 2004, the then prime minister Tony Blair set a target that more failed asylum seekers should be removed every quarter than new unfounded cases arrived in the UK. In September 2004, former Prime Minister Tony Blair set a target that more failed asylum seekers should be removed every quarter than new unfounded cases arrived in the UK.
In its review of 2006 figures, the Home Office says it met the target by removing 18,280 asylum seekers over the entire year, compared with the arrival of 17,900 cases predicted to be rejected.In its review of 2006 figures, the Home Office says it met the target by removing 18,280 asylum seekers over the entire year, compared with the arrival of 17,900 cases predicted to be rejected.
However, figures for removals for the 12 months to June 2007 suggest the government is again missing the target amid a prioritisation of the deportation of foreign prisoners. However, figures for removals for the 12 months to June 2007 show the government has missed the target after prioritising the deporation of 2,800 foreign criminals reaching the end of sentences.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said that while the focus had recently been on foreign prisoner removals, the overall picture was of an improving immigration system.Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said that while the focus had recently been on foreign prisoner removals, the overall picture was of an improving immigration system.
"We have said we will double resources for immigration policing and last year we delivered record removals of those still in Britain illegally - with one being deported every eight minutes," he said."We have said we will double resources for immigration policing and last year we delivered record removals of those still in Britain illegally - with one being deported every eight minutes," he said.
"In the next 12 months we are introducing a single border force, fingerprint checks for all visa applicants, ID cards for foreign nationals, electronic passenger screening and an Australian-style points system."In the next 12 months we are introducing a single border force, fingerprint checks for all visa applicants, ID cards for foreign nationals, electronic passenger screening and an Australian-style points system.
"In addition we removed nearly 2000 foreign national prisoners in the first six months of this year, and the prime minister has vowed to deport 4,000 by the end of the year.""In addition we removed nearly 2000 foreign national prisoners in the first six months of this year, and the prime minister has vowed to deport 4,000 by the end of the year."
But Sir Andrew Green of pressure group Migrationwatch UK said: ""Today's figures only concern Eastern Europe and they show that Eastern Europeans are arriving at rather more than 500 a day.
"To which you need to add those who are self employed and they don't have to register, and probably others who don't bother to register because it costs them 70 or 80 pounds to do so.
"So you're talking about an inflow on a huge scale, which is in addition to even larger numbers that are coming from the Third World. This is placing a huge strain on our infrastructure - it's out of hand."