§ Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many work permit holders given leave to enter the United Kingdom in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001 were employed in the IT sector: and what proportion of IT workers employed were admitted for the purpose of taking up a job in the sector. [77936]
§ Beverley HughesI have been asked to reply.
The total number of work permits issued in respect of information technology (IT) workers in 2000 and 2001 is 18,257 and 26,870 respectively, of which 12,548 and 15,976 respectively were issued prior to entry to the United Kingdom. Labour Force Survey figures for the total number of people employed in computer services are 500,000 in 2000 and 547,000 in 2001.