May I warmly welcome the sensible decisions that my right hon. Friend has taken? Does she agree that, although the economic migration that she intends to permit is clearly of benefit to the nation, a population pushed up to 70 million is not? That is the inheritance she faced, on...

May I warmly welcome the sensible decisions that my right hon. Friend has taken? Does she agree that, although the economic migration that she intends to permit is clearly of benefit to the nation, a population pushed up to 70 million is not? That is the inheritance she faced, on...

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will rank the UK among other EU member states in terms of net migration in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will rank the UK among other EU member states in terms of net migration in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

(4) what proportion of the resident population was born abroad in (a) 1987, (b) 1997 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of future trends in the proportion of the population born abroad;

(4) what proportion of the resident population was born abroad in (a) 1987, (b) 1997 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of future trends in the proportion of the population born abroad;

(5) what the net change in the number of foreign-born residents in the UK was between (a) 1987 and 1997 and (b) 1997 and the most recent year for which figures are available; and which 10 countries were the most frequent countries of origin of foreign-born UK residents in each...

(5) what the net change in the number of foreign-born residents in the UK was between (a) 1987 and 1997 and (b) 1997 and the most recent year for which figures are available; and which 10 countries were the most frequent countries of origin of foreign-born UK residents in each...

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what international (a) immigration, (b) emigration and (c) net migration was for (i) each Government Office region in England, (ii) each local authority area in England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Scotland in each five year period since 1987; and what...

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what international (a) immigration, (b) emigration and (c) net migration was for (i) each Government Office region in England, (ii) each local authority area in England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Scotland in each five year period since 1987; and what...

(3) how many and what proportion of those immigrating to the UK were employed in manual and clerical occupations prior to arrival in the UK in each year since 1997;

(3) how many and what proportion of those immigrating to the UK were employed in manual and clerical occupations prior to arrival in the UK in each year since 1997;

(2) what net international migration was for those living in the UK and born (a) in the UK and (b) elsewhere in the periods (i) 1987 to 1997 and (ii) 1997 to the most recent year for which figures are available;

(2) what net international migration was for those living in the UK and born (a) in the UK and (b) elsewhere in the periods (i) 1987 to 1997 and (ii) 1997 to the most recent year for which figures are available;

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008, Official Report, column 49W, on migration, what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of the direct and indirect contribution of net migration to population growth by (a) 2031 and (b) 2056;...

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008, Official Report, column 49W, on migration, what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of the direct and indirect contribution of net migration to population growth by (a) 2031 and (b) 2056;...

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contribution net migration made to population change in the UK in each five year period since 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contribution net migration made to population change in the UK in each five year period since 1987.

It is a pleasure to follow the sincere remarks of the hon. Member for Brent, North (Barry Gardiner), although I do not entirely agree with all of them. I commend the tone that the Minister set and his willingness to engage in debate and take interventions. I shall not go...

It is a pleasure to follow the sincere remarks of the hon. Member for Brent, North (Barry Gardiner), although I do not entirely agree with all of them. I commend the tone that the Minister set and his willingness to engage in debate and take interventions. I shall not go...

I have no problem with immigration, still less with immigrants, and I respect the hard work and the contribution that they make. When I refer to immigration, I am referring to the unprecedented, exceptionally high levels that the Government have caused or permitted to take place into the country over...

I have no problem with immigration, still less with immigrants, and I respect the hard work and the contribution that they make. When I refer to immigration, I am referring to the unprecedented, exceptionally high levels that the Government have caused or permitted to take place into the country over...

I will give way to the Minister if he is prepared to explain why he did that.

I will give way to the Minister if he is prepared to explain why he did that.

I think that the hon. Gentleman would find, if he did some research, that certainly the Huguenots came to this country, fleeing persecution, and made a distinctive contribution, but it was not on the scale of the migration that we have seen in recent times. None of the previous migrations—whether...

I think that the hon. Gentleman would find, if he did some research, that certainly the Huguenots came to this country, fleeing persecution, and made a distinctive contribution, but it was not on the scale of the migration that we have seen in recent times. None of the previous migrations—whether...

Rather than getting so excited about whether there is a cap, would not it be better for the Minister and his colleagues who are reflecting his views from the Back Benches to consider the fact that, if there is no change in the Government's policy, between now and 2031 we...

Rather than getting so excited about whether there is a cap, would not it be better for the Minister and his colleagues who are reflecting his views from the Back Benches to consider the fact that, if there is no change in the Government's policy, between now and 2031 we...

The hon. Gentleman is putting forward a ridiculous policy. People cannot be admitted to this country on the basis of a restriction on where they move within it. As he well knows, EU law as well as English law—certainly in the long term—would prevent that.

The hon. Gentleman is putting forward a ridiculous policy. People cannot be admitted to this country on the basis of a restriction on where they move within it. As he well knows, EU law as well as English law—certainly in the long term—would prevent that.

On the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes), the Minister will know from his statistics that there are two measures of the total amount of inward migration into the country—not net migration, but total migration. The one to which he...

On the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes), the Minister will know from his statistics that there are two measures of the total amount of inward migration into the country—not net migration, but total migration. The one to which he...

It is still a very high figure. The figure of 190,000, which is the long-term projection for net migration, is equivalent to a city the size of Milton Keynes, as the House of Lords pointed out in its report. The Government cannot control emigration—although they may drive people to want...

It is still a very high figure. The figure of 190,000, which is the long-term projection for net migration, is equivalent to a city the size of Milton Keynes, as the House of Lords pointed out in its report. The Government cannot control emigration—although they may drive people to want...

As a Back Bencher, I do not make policy. The Minister seems to imply that it is impossible to get the figure lower. I point out to him the figure that I have just cited, which he agrees with, of 591,000; that figure was 327,000 in the year that the...

As a Back Bencher, I do not make policy. The Minister seems to imply that it is impossible to get the figure lower. I point out to him the figure that I have just cited, which he agrees with, of 591,000; that figure was 327,000 in the year that the...

The Minister has been generous in giving way. However, the problem with his argument is that, in 1997, as in 2007, many people wanted to move from countries where incomes were lower to this country, where incomes are higher. However, as soon as his Government came to power, they substantially...

The Minister has been generous in giving way. However, the problem with his argument is that, in 1997, as in 2007, many people wanted to move from countries where incomes were lower to this country, where incomes are higher. However, as soon as his Government came to power, they substantially...

May I take my hon. Friend back to the intervention on him by the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne)? Does my hon. Friend agree that it is important to correct the impression, which the Liberal Democrats may inadvertently have given, that some evidence was somehow not properly heard by...

May I take my hon. Friend back to the intervention on him by the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne)? Does my hon. Friend agree that it is important to correct the impression, which the Liberal Democrats may inadvertently have given, that some evidence was somehow not properly heard by...