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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hain sorry for 'wrong' figures | Hain sorry for 'wrong' figures |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain has apologised after ministers admitted that 300,000 more immigrants were working in the UK than first thought. | Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain has apologised after ministers admitted that 300,000 more immigrants were working in the UK than first thought. |
| New figures show that the number of foreign nationals employed in the UK since 1997 is 1.1m, not the 800,000 officially recorded. | New figures show that the number of foreign nationals employed in the UK since 1997 is 1.1m, not the 800,000 officially recorded. |
| Mr Hain has written to his Tory shadow Chris Grayling to admit that incorrect figures were given in Commons answers. | Mr Hain has written to his Tory shadow Chris Grayling to admit that incorrect figures were given in Commons answers. |
| Mr Grayling said the admission was "an extraordinary development". | Mr Grayling said the admission was "an extraordinary development". |
| It comes just hours before the government is expected to extend controls on the number of Romanian and Bulgarian workers coming to the UK. | It comes just hours before the government is expected to extend controls on the number of Romanian and Bulgarian workers coming to the UK. |
| 'Good faith' | 'Good faith' |
| The extra 300,000 was found after analysis of the Labour Force Survey, which is compiled by the Office for National Statistics, showed 8% of the UK's 29.1m workforce was foreign. | The extra 300,000 was found after analysis of the Labour Force Survey, which is compiled by the Office for National Statistics, showed 8% of the UK's 29.1m workforce was foreign. |
| The new figures relate to new jobs that have been created over the last 10 years. | The new figures relate to new jobs that have been created over the last 10 years. |
| I apologise for having to make this revision Peter Hain Analysis: The big issues Population 'to hit 65m' In full: Cameron speech | I apologise for having to make this revision Peter Hain Analysis: The big issues Population 'to hit 65m' In full: Cameron speech |
| The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stressed that ministers had used the earlier 800,000 estimate "in good faith". | The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stressed that ministers had used the earlier 800,000 estimate "in good faith". |
| And in his letter to Mr Grayling, Mr Hain said: "It was stated that the increase in the number of foreign nationals in employment since 1997 was 0.8 million. | And in his letter to Mr Grayling, Mr Hain said: "It was stated that the increase in the number of foreign nationals in employment since 1997 was 0.8 million. |
| "Following careful analysis of the information in the Labour Force Survey, this figure has been revised upwards by 0.3 million. | "Following careful analysis of the information in the Labour Force Survey, this figure has been revised upwards by 0.3 million. |
| "This revised analysis shows that there are, in total, an extra 1.1 million foreign nationals in employment in the UK since 1997. | "This revised analysis shows that there are, in total, an extra 1.1 million foreign nationals in employment in the UK since 1997. |
| "I apologise for having to make this revision," Mr Hain said, stressing that the new figure was the most "robust estimate available". | "I apologise for having to make this revision," Mr Hain said, stressing that the new figure was the most "robust estimate available". |
| 'Competence' questioned | 'Competence' questioned |
| He said the change would affect previous government responses on how many of the 2.7m jobs created since Labour came to power in 1997 have gone to British workers. | He said the change would affect previous government responses on how many of the 2.7m jobs created since Labour came to power in 1997 have gone to British workers. |
| "I previously stated that two million of these jobs have gone to British workers," he said. | "I previously stated that two million of these jobs have gone to British workers," he said. |
| "However, we have subsequently discovered that it is not technically accurate to make this comparison." | "However, we have subsequently discovered that it is not technically accurate to make this comparison." |
| Getting these figures so wrong further undermines the credibility of the government's claims to be able to deliver a well-managed system for foreign workers Danny AlexanderLiberal Democrats | |
| Mr Grayling said the admission called "into question the competence of ministers and of the government as a whole". | Mr Grayling said the admission called "into question the competence of ministers and of the government as a whole". |
| "The fact that the government did not know the true number of overseas workers who have come to the UK in the past 10 years is profoundly worrying and confirms fears that ministers have simply lost control of our systems for migrant workers." | "The fact that the government did not know the true number of overseas workers who have come to the UK in the past 10 years is profoundly worrying and confirms fears that ministers have simply lost control of our systems for migrant workers." |
| Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Danny Alexander said: "Getting these figures so wrong further undermines the credibility of the government's claims to be able to deliver a well-managed system for foreign workers." | |
| A DWP spokesman said just under half the 1.1m foreign workers were EU nationals, while the remainder came from other non-EU and Commonwealth countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. | A DWP spokesman said just under half the 1.1m foreign workers were EU nationals, while the remainder came from other non-EU and Commonwealth countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. |
| The revised figures only emerged after Tory shadow work and pensions minister James Clappison submitted a series of written parliamentary questions. | The revised figures only emerged after Tory shadow work and pensions minister James Clappison submitted a series of written parliamentary questions. |
| Immigration Minister Liam Byrne told the BBC: "It's always frustrating when new information like this emerges. | Immigration Minister Liam Byrne told the BBC: "It's always frustrating when new information like this emerges. |
| "But it underlines the point that it was a mistake to remove exit controls and why we urgently need new systems in place to count people in and count people out of the country. | "But it underlines the point that it was a mistake to remove exit controls and why we urgently need new systems in place to count people in and count people out of the country. |
| "And for those foreign nationals who are here we need to make sure they have ID cards so we know who they are." | "And for those foreign nationals who are here we need to make sure they have ID cards so we know who they are." |
| Border police force | Border police force |
| However, he said the government was introducing the "biggest shake-up" of immigration in its history. | However, he said the government was introducing the "biggest shake-up" of immigration in its history. |
| This also includes: the introduction of a new Australian-style points-based system of immigration to ensure only those who benefit Britain can settle here, a border police force and electronic checks on everyone entering and leaving the UK by 2014. | This also includes: the introduction of a new Australian-style points-based system of immigration to ensure only those who benefit Britain can settle here, a border police force and electronic checks on everyone entering and leaving the UK by 2014. |
| Currently 200,000 more people move to live in the UK than leave each year. | Currently 200,000 more people move to live in the UK than leave each year. |
| Earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC that figure should be cut by imposing annual limits on the numbers of people moving to work in the UK from outside the EU. | Earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC that figure should be cut by imposing annual limits on the numbers of people moving to work in the UK from outside the EU. |
| And people from new EU countries should be subject to controls on access to the labour market - as the government has done for Romania and Bulgaria. | And people from new EU countries should be subject to controls on access to the labour market - as the government has done for Romania and Bulgaria. |
| 'Not right-wing issue' | 'Not right-wing issue' |
| He declined to give a precise figure but said action was needed because of the recent increase in immigration, people living longer, more people choosing to live alone and the pressure on services and society. | He declined to give a precise figure but said action was needed because of the recent increase in immigration, people living longer, more people choosing to live alone and the pressure on services and society. |
| He denied a move to right-wing issues, saying it had to be considered "in the round" in calm language. | He denied a move to right-wing issues, saying it had to be considered "in the round" in calm language. |
| Mr Cameron said he would set up a border police force to track down and remove illegal migrants and to raise the minimum age for spouses coming to Britain to 21 as well as ensuring they could speak English. | Mr Cameron said he would set up a border police force to track down and remove illegal migrants and to raise the minimum age for spouses coming to Britain to 21 as well as ensuring they could speak English. |
| Last week the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated the UK population would rise by 4.4 million, to 65 million, by 2016 and to 71 million by 2031. | Last week the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated the UK population would rise by 4.4 million, to 65 million, by 2016 and to 71 million by 2031. |