§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits were issued by his Department in 1973, 1979 and 1982.
§ Mr. GummerSome 25,105 work permits were issued in 1973 and 14,442 in 1979. In addition, 7,734 overseas nationals already in the United Kingdom for some other purpose were given permission to work here in 1973 and 3,551 in 1979.
Figures for 1982 are not yet available, but figures for 1981, to be published shortly, show that 11,803 permits were issued and 960 permissions given.
The figures do not include approvals under the training and work experience scheme or its predecessors, the Commonwealth training and student employment 232W schemes. Also excluded are approvals given to overseas students to take employment during vacations or in their spare time.