1.4m foreign nationals work in UK
- There are 1.4 million foreign nationals working in Britain, five per cent of the workforce
A record 140,000 migrants won permission to stay in
2003. Half were family reunions, a quarter were work-related and 15 per cent were asylum cases
32 per cent of new arrivals came from Africa, 21 per cent the Indian subcontinent, 18 per cent Asia, 12 per cent the Americas, 11 per cent Europe outside the EU, and five per cent Oceania
Temporary work permits were granted to 81,000 people with 38,000 dependants in 2003. A further 300,000 foreign students come each year
London's population would decline without migrants. Each year a net 200,000 people move to other parts of Britain or abroad
Asylum claims fell by 41 per cent from a record 84,130 in 2002, to 49,405 in 2003. An estimated 41,000 were judged unfounded
A further sharp fall is expected in 2004 asylum figures. Iran, China, Somalia and Zimbabwe are the main countries of origin
Removals of failed asylum seekers rose by 21 per cent to 13,005 in 2003
By the end of 2003 at least 46,000 asylum seekers had been dispersed to rent-free accommodation outside London
The Government admits 3,000 sham marriages are staged each year for immigration purposes
