§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what longitudinal studies have been conducted on the economic performance of immigrants and refugees and the factors which contribute to their successful integration into the British labour market.
§ Mr. Charles WardleNo such longitudinal studies have been published, though some studies in progress will be able to address some of the questions raised by the hon. Member. Several Government Departments are collaborating in mounting the "Working Lives Survey", a major sample survey of people's experience of work. The Home Office contribution to this study is paying for an additional "booster" sample of 2,000 respondents from the main ethnic minority groups. Some of the ethnic minority respondents will be immigrants, although it will not be possible to distinguish between refugees and other immigrants. Results should be available during 1996.