Immigration

[Woody1985]

I saw a politician on one of the news channels this morning discussing immigration. There have been around 1 million immigrants into the country since we opened up to the EU in 2004. It is also estimated that a further 7 million people will reach the UK within the next 20 years.

The figures that were being discussed were that 80% of all people that move to the UK are employed on minimum wage and that a government report has stated that there is almost no ecomonic benefit from the influx of people. However, there are great strains being placed on the infrastructers that are required to support those people moving here such as doctors, dentists etc etc.

Does anyone know where to find the information / report?

I had a quick look through the BBC website on the immigration pages but couldn't find any mention of it (I can't remember what news channel I was watching).

Thanks

[hibsbollah]

The Office for National Statistics releases immigration figures, google ONS if you're interested. The claim that you probably saw on TV is that immigrants provide no fiscal benefit to Britain, not no economic benefit. (ie-when you subtract the cost of the social services they use from the taxes they pay there is no net 'profit' to the exchequer). This is different to an economic benefit, which immigration clearly does provide. Agriculture, health and social care, construction, cleaning and lots of other industrial sectors would grind to a halt without immigration.

[Woody1985]

The Office for National Statistics releases immigration figures, google ONS if you're interested. The claim that you probably saw on TV is that immigrants provide no fiscal benefit to Britain, not no economic benefit. (ie-when you subtract the cost of the social services they use from the taxes they pay there is no net 'profit' to the exchequer). This is different to an economic benefit, which immigration clearly does provide. Agriculture, health and social care, construction, cleaning and lots of other industrial sectors would grind to a halt without immigration.

You're correct, that's what was said re the fiscal benefit.

[IberianHibernian]

I saw a politician on one of the news channels this morning discussing immigration. There have been around 1 million immigrants into the country since we opened up to the EU in 2004. It is also estimated that a further 7 million people will reach the UK within the next 20 years.

The figures that were being discussed were that 80% of all people that move to the UK are employed on minimum wage and that a government report has stated that there is almost no ecomonic benefit from the influx of people. However, there are great strains being placed on the infrastructers that are required to support those people moving here such as doctors, dentists etc etc.

Does anyone know where to find the information / report?

I had a quick look through the BBC website on the immigration pages but couldn't find any mention of it (I can't remember what news channel I was watching).

ThanksDid the politician mention the fact there are millions of UK citizens abroad using other countries` resources too ? Also as you mention EU since 2004 many of the foreigners in UK you mention will be from countries which have reciprocal agreements with UK for healthcare etc. In countries like Spain there are literally thousands of UK pensioners having eg hip operations to avoid waiting lists at home and generally using health services . It`s probably the same in other countries .

[Woody1985]

Did the politician mention the fact there are millions of UK citizens abroad using other countries` resources too ? Also as you mention EU since 2004 many of the foreigners in UK you mention will be from countries which have reciprocal agreements with UK for healthcare etc. In countries like Spain there are literally thousands of UK pensioners having eg hip operations to avoid waiting lists at home and generally using health services . It`s probably the same in other countries .

I don't live in other countries so don't really care about their infrastructures and their fiscal / economic benefits to be perfectly honest. However, off the top of my head I would imagine that UK ex-citzens provide more of a fiscal benefit to their new home counties with probably the exception of those in the tourism industy. That may be an assumption that is entirely inaccurate. Do you have any information on other countries immigration?

From the information I looked up earlier tonight, the net migration for the UK has grown from relatively stable in the early 90s to the stage where it's in the region of 300,000 more people coming into the country than going out. I don't know where to get stats on occupations etc of these people are but it would be interesting to see given that the point of immigration is to plug gaps in the countries workforce.

When the country is on it's knees with unemployment spiralling out of control I thought I'd read a bit into it and that's why I asked if anyone knew where I could get more information. Not to get in a tat for tat. Apologies if that's not what you intended but that's the feeling that seemed to come across.

Edit; A quick look at this page suggests that people living abroad do not get the healthcare benefits you mention and would appear to be for holidays or short term stays.

Living Abroad

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/Pages/Livingabroad.aspx

Main Page

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/Pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx

Edit 2; Sorry!

Also the type of operations that you mention about people jumping lists is not currently the case at the moment IIRC. This was on the news a month or two back and the reason is that it's not allowed is because it would effectively mean the rich jumping NHS waiting queues since only the operation / treatment would be financed and not the travel arrangements. Therefore, less fortunate people wouldn't be able to go abroad for treatment due to the travel costs.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Why did the housing boom take place? Because there was an increase in population due to immigration. Why did the Bubble burst? The immigration slowed down.

I think the builders did pretty well out of immigration.

[Betty Boop]

Surely Scotland needs immigration, we have a declining population.

[steakbake]

Surely Scotland needs immigration, we have a declining population.

We need young, skilled workers who are likely to come here, have families and help to even out the balance out an ageing population.

I'm always suspicious of Scots who moan about immigration. We have absolutely stacks of room, we could do with the people and we have not experienced anything like the level of immigration found in the major metropolitan areas in England.