§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many foreign workers, excluding European Economic Community nationals, currently have work permits to work in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe information is not available since no statistics are kept by our Department as to the length of stay of workers to whom work permits have been issued. In the years 1979–82, the latest year for which figures are available, the number of approvals given under the general work permit scheme for employment expected to last for 11 months or more were as follows:
Numbers 1979 8,344 1980 6,423 1981 5,780 1982 5,569