HC Deb 01 March 1978 vol 945 cc272-5W
Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits were granted to foreigners for each of the years since 1970 to the latest convenient date; what were the countries of origin of such persons; how many subsequently obtained British citizenship; and how many such permits were granted for the hotel and catering industry.

Mr. John Grant

Since 1970 the numbers of work permits issued for foreign workers overseas and permissions given to those foreigners already here were as follows:

Year Number
1970 60,907
1971 51,213
1972 42,704
1973 26,460
1974 24,509
1975 21,843
1976* 14,907
1977 10,405
(Jan.-Sept.)
*The 1976 figure relates to cases recorded; owing to industrial action affecting the compilation of statistics about 10 per cent of cases were not recorded.

The figures do not include student employees for whom permits were issued for supernumerary employment not normally exceeding 12 months.

Information is not available as to how many of these workers subsequently acquired citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by naturalisation, for which residence of a minimum of five years is required.

The number of work permits issued and permissions given for foreign hotel and catering workers were as follows:

Year Number
1970 21,633
1971 18,656
1972 12,685
1973 6,723
1974 6,669
1975 7,660
1976 3,240
1977 1,302
(Jan. Sept.)

The statistics given above have been analysed and published in more detail in the Department of Employment Gazette.

The countries which issued the passports of foreigners for whom work permits were issued or permission given for employment were as follows:

1970*
Austria 1,235
Belgium 306
Denmark 940
Finland 1,708
France 4,264
Germany 4,392
Italy 4,483
Morocco 2,072
Netherlands 2,294
Norway 910
Portugal 2,569
South Africa 1,876
Spain 9,669
Sweden 1,345
Switzerland 3,551
Turkey 1,076
USA 7,151
Yugoslavia 2,547
Other countries 8,519
Total 60,907
1971*
Austria 980
Belgium 417
Denmark 830
Finland 1,515
France 3,496
Germany 3,464
Italy 3,122
Morocco 265
Netherlands 1,459
Norway 758
Portugal 2,290
South Africa 1,418
Spain 8,981
Sweden 1,167
Switzerland 2,890
Turkey 1,605
USA 6,473
Yugoslavia 1,357
Other countries 8,726
Total 51,213
1972*
Austria 693
Belgium 292
Denmark 598
Finland 1,355
France 3,212
Germany 3,441
Italy 2,460
Morocco 195
Netherlands 1,174
Norway 581
Portugal 1,609
South Africa 1,376
Spain 5,883
Sweden 1,186
Switzerland 2,092
Turkey 265
USA 6,121
Yugoslavia 848
Other countries 9,323
Total 42,704
1973
Finland 810
Japan 1,092
Philippines 2,691
Portugal 1,041
South Africa 819
Spain 4,205
Sweden 1,094
Switzerland 1,742
USA 5,776
Yugoslavia 864
Others 6,326
Total 26,460
1974
Finland 696
Japan 1,044
Philippines 991
Portugal 816
South Africa 588
Spain 3,407
Sweden 1,078
Switzerland 1,249
USA 5,620
Yugoslavia 906
Others 8,114
Total 24,509
1975
Finland 803
Japan 920
Philippines 1,986
Portugal 901
South Africa 497
Spain 2,728
Sweden 534
Switzerland 968
USA 5,241
Yugoslavia 654
Others 6,611
Total 21,843
1976
Austria 546
Colombia 346
Hong Kong 337
Japan 747
Philippines 2,050
Portugal 522
Spain 935
Sweden 302
Switzerland 592
USA 4,873
Others 3,657
Total 14,907
1977† January-June
Egypt 135
Hungary 172
Japan 346
Philippines 1,174
Portugal 192
South Africa 213
Spain 291
Sweden 239
Switzerland 196
USA 2,456
Others 1,431
Total 6,845
* EEC nationals did not require work permits to take employment here after 1972.
† Analysis by country is not yet available for permits/permissions issued in the second half of 1977.