§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens holding work permits are currently resident in the United Kingdom; how many of them are actually in employment; and how this compares with the situation at the same time in each of the five preceding years.
§ Dr. SummerskillI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his Question of 31st March.—[Vol. 929, c.199.] Stastics are not maintained of the number of foreign work permit holders currently resident in the United Kingdom. Nationals of EEC countries do not require work permits to take employment here. Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment have any figures of the number of permits holders who are actually in employment, but the proportion who are unemployed is likely to be very small because of the restricted circumstances in which work permits are issued by the Department of Employment.