HC Deb 01 August 1978 vol 955 cc215-6W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for work permits have been received to date in 1978; and how many have been granted.

Mr. John Grant

The most recent figures available are those for the first quarter of 1978, during which my Department dealt with 4,712 applications for work permits for foreign and Common- wealth workers overseas and for permission to take employment for those already here. Of these applications, 4,146 resulted in a permit being issued or permission given.

The figures do not include foreign student employees or Commonwealth employees or Commonwealth trainees for whom permits were issued or permission given for temporary periods and who are not allowed to take permanent employment.

An analysis of statistics of work permits by country issuing the passports of overseas workers for the first six months of 1978 will be published when available in the Department of Employment Gazette.