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800,000 eastern European immigrants apply for work in UK

26/02/2008

Almost 800,000 eastern European immigrants have applied for work permits in Britain since 2004.

Figures released by the Home Office today show that some 796,000 applications to work have been made since Poland and seven other eastern European countries joined the European Union in May 2004.

Of those who applied 766,000 were granted permission.

The number of failed asylum seekers last year however fell by 26 per cent compared to the year before to 13,595.

Border and immigration minister Liam Byrne welcomed the figures: "Overall today's figures prove that last year we deported someone every eight minutes – and we got our priorities straight."

"We deported the highest ever number of foreign lawbreakers, up by a huge 80 per cent, and we attacked illegal working much harder because it undercuts British wages, with 40 per cent more illegal working operations," he added.