Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 November 2009.

Migrant Workers: Bulgarians and Romanians

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord West of Spithead on 5 October (WA 485) and by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 17 July (WA 216), why the numbers of applications for accession worker cards, sector-based schemes and the seasonal agriculture workers scheme approved for Bulgarians and Romanians since their accession to the European Union were not provided in the Answers.

Answer: The Answers provided by Lord West of Spithead and Baroness Royall of Blaisdon stated that information relating to the number of accession worker cards issued to Romanian and Bulgarian nationals since their accession to the European Union is published in the Bulgarian and Romanian Accession Statistics. These statistics are published quarterly and are available in the Libraries of the House. Information on sector-based scheme (SBS) and seasonal agricultural workers scheme (SAWS) applications are also in the annex of this document. The numbers requested are contained within this document. The statistics can also be accessed on page 45 of the following document on the Home Office's website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq209.pdf. Since the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union in January 2007 the number of applications approved are as follows: Accession worker cards—7,455; Sector-based schemes—3,325; and Seasonal agricultural workers scheme—41,975.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6097; 714 c146WA
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Migrant Workers: Bulgarians and Romanians
Monday, 5 October 2009
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Bulgaria Migrant workers Romania Seasonal agricultural workers' scheme
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk