The flow of migrants from Eastern Europe seeking work in Britain rose last year, with more than 20,000 a month registering for the first time with the Government.

Figures published yesterday show huge numbers of young migrants are continuing to head for Britain, more than two years after eight former Soviet bloc states joined the EU. A total of 232,000 initial applications for work were made last year — more than 20,000 up on 2005.

The continuing surge in the number of jobseekers is also highlighted by initial applications in October and November last year being 3,000 higher than in June and July. Yet in previous years the numbers fluctuated, with more applicants in summer than winter.

Overall, more than 579,000 people have registered with the Government since May 2004, when Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined the EU.

Almost two thirds of the total — 360,000 — were Poles, followed by Lithuanians and Slovaks, who made up 11 per cent and 10 per cent of applicants respectively. The figures do not include the self-employed, estimated at 200,000.

Although Liam Byrne, the Immigration Minister, insists that the large migrant work-force is benefiting Britain, the continuing increase will cause disquiet among Labour back-bench MPs who are concerned at the scale of migration. Local councils have also expressed concern about the impact of such large-scale migration on public services.

John Reid, the Home Secretary, has reacted to their alarm by imposing strict curbs on Bulgarians and Romanians, the latest new EU entrants who can come to work in Britain.

Mr Byrne said the latest figures showed that migrant workers were filling skill and labour gaps that could not be met by the native population. He added: “We need to maintain progress on our immigration reforms and understand the transitional impacts from the accession in 2004 before we take the next step.”

Initially, research for the Home Office estimated that up to 13,000 migrants would seek work in the first year after accession.

David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: “These figures completely blow that estimate out of the water. Immigration can be of real benefit to the country but only if it is properly controlled, taking into account its impact on the economy, public services and social cohesion. This is demonstrably not the case.”

The figures show that although the number of Poles heading for Britain continues to increase, amounting to almost three quarters of all initial applications in the final three months of 2006, the number of migrants from the Czech Republikc, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia fell by more than 25 per cent last year.

In another set of figures released yesterday asylum applications fell to their lowest level since 1993 last year as part of a general decline in numbers seeking refuge in the EU. Despite the fall, Britain remains the second-favourite EU destination after France.

A total of 23,710 applicants, rising to 27,800 including dependants, sought asylum last year, compared with the record of 103,000 five years ago after the Home Office lost control of the immigration system.

The Home Office missed its target for deporting failed asylum-seekers in the last three months of the year but for 2006 as a whole hit the target set by the Prime Minister. Overall, 18,235 failed asylum-seekers and dependants were removed.

Role call

100,000

East Europeans registered for work in administration and business (approx)

38,000

in hospitality and catering

19,700

in agriculture

2,500

bus, lorry and coach drivers

1,000

as doctors, nurses and paramedical specialists 700 as teachers, researchers and classroom assistants

Source: Home Office

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