HC Deb 25 February 1976 vol 906 c225W
Mr. Ronald Bell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he can make of the number of citizens of the Republic of Ireland now in the United Kingdom and of the present annual rate of inflow.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

According to the most recent figures, from the 1971 census, about 709,000 people in Great Britain were born in the Republic of Ireland. Almost all of them will be citizens of the Republic. Some will also be citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies by descent or registration.

As to the second part of the Question, our Department does not collect statistics of movements within the common travel area and a reliable estimate cannot readily be made.