§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued(a) last year and (b) in the period since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [947]
§ Angela EagleIn the 2000 calendar year, a total of 102,174 work permit applications were approved. Between 1 January and 31 May this year, 56,118 work permit applications were approved.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued(a) under the fast track scheme for shortage occupations since the introduction of this scheme and (b)for shortage occupations expressed as a proportion of the total; and if he will make a statement. [949]
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§ Angela EagleInformation is not available in the form requested. Between 1 October 1999 and 31 May 2001, the number of approvals made in respect of skills shortage work permit applications was 44,413. This figure represents 25 per cent. of the total number of work permit approvals made during the same period.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to introduce a green card scheme to govern the entry of workers into the UK. [954]
§ Angela EagleThe United Kingdom has longstanding work permit arrangements that enable employers to recruit people from overseas. The system has recently undergone a comprehensive and successful review to ensure that it responds quickly and effectively to labour market needs.
This Government propose further to develop the work permit system in order to ensure that it continues to serve the overall needs of the economy as part of a coherent migration policy.
No decisions have been taken yet on the precise nature of any changes.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued to IT professionals in(a) the last year and (b) in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [948]
§ Angela EagleIn the 2000 calendar year, 18,259 work permit applications were approved in respect of information technology professionals. Between 1 January and 31 May this year, 10,700 approvals have been granted for that category of worker. Like most developed countries, the United Kingdom continues to experience a shortage of some skills within the information technology sector. The United Kingdom work permit system has the flexibility to respond quickly to emerging shortages.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the issuing of work permits for seasonal agricultural employment. [950]
§ Angela EagleThe United Kingdom has a long-standing Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme which enables non-European Economic Area students between the ages of 18 and 25 who are in full-time education to enter the United Kingdom to do seasonal agricultural work. The annual quota was raised in 2000 from 10,000 to 15,200.
There are no present plans to issue work permits for agricultural workers. However, we will wish to consider the place of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme in the context of any proposed changes to the work permit system.