HC Deb 16 November 1982 vol 32 cc81-2W
Mr. McMahon

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits have been provided to foreign persons for periods of less than a year in each of the last three years.

Mr. Waddington

The information requested is not available except at disproportionate cost, since statistics maintained by my Department distinguish only between approvals given for employment lasting 11 months or more and those given for shorter periods.

The number of approvals given for periods of less than 11 months in the years in question are as follows:

Number
1981 *6,983
1980 8,238
1979 8,598

* Provisional

These figures do not include approvals given under the training and work experience scheme, nor those granted to overseas students already in the United Kingdom to enable them to take up vacational or spare time employment.