Written question asked by Lord Hammond of Runnymede (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 2004. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of citizens of EU accession states likely to settle in the UK during the first year of those states' membership. - Inc ref to "The impact of EU enlargement on migration flows", Home Office On-Line Report 25/03.

Answer: Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the number of citizens of EU accession states likely to settle in the UK during the first year of those states' membership. [150081] Beverley Hughes: Research conducted by University College London for the Home Office, published in June last year ("The impact of EU enlargement on migration flows", Home Office On-Line Report 25/03), estimates that the number of people expected to migrate to the UK from the new member states in the years following enlargement will not be significant. The research corroborates a number of other independent studies, which have been summarised in reports by the European Commission in 2000 and the former Department for Education and Employment in 1999. The estimates for those expected to migrate cover those coming to the UK for at least a year. We will monitor the situation and the UK has the right to reintroduce restrictions on workers in the event of an unexpected impact on the standard of living or level of employment in a particular region or occupation.

Secondary information