Migration

The Department of Work and Pensions has issued a report on the number of migrants who've been granted National Insurance numbers. Of particular interest is the breakdown of the top ten countries from which the migrants come. The figures for 2004/05 and 2005/06 are as follows:

All figures in thousands

 2004/05                            2005/06
Poland          62.6                Poland        171.4
India           32.7                India          46.0
Pakistan        20.3                Lithuania      30.5
South Africa    19.3                Slovakia       26.4
Australia       16.6                South Africa   24.0
Lithuania       15.6                Australia      23.8
France          13.3                Pakistan       22.3
China           12.6                France         17.2
Portugal        12.2                Latvia         14.2
Slovakia        10.5                Germany        13.3

What is remarkable is the countries missing from the list: the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, the three most successful of the eight
countries to join. This indicates that the Polish migration is down to
specific economic problems in that country.

The pressures should be relieved by Spain, Portugal and Greece opening their doors to the eastern europeans without restriction from 1 May 2006. France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark have eased restrictions. Only Germany and Austria have full restrictions in place. As these countries start to open their doors, and as the eastern europeans themselves lift restrictions on movement between themselves, we should start to see the migration fall. What would really help of course is Poland improving her economic performance - not sure that is possible at the moment as the very strange Law and Justice party is in power.