§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits for employment within the United Kingdom have been awarded over each of the last five years for which figures are available; and which were the top five countries of origin in each year.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe number of work permits for employment excluding work experience approved for each of the last five years is as follows:
Number 1988 29,283 1989 33,899 1990 39,343 1991 34,448 1992 34,259 These figures include employees of multi-national companies who are transferred to the United Kingdom.
The following table shows for the same period in descending order the five countries whose nationals were issued the greatest number of work permits:
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 USA USA USA USA USA Japan Japan Japan Japan Japan India Australia Australia India India Australia India India Australia Australia Canada Canada Canada Canada Canada