Hang on a minute, I have read in another paper the exact opposite as well as listened to the same report on a radio show!!, If you really want a clear indication of how much these communities bring take a trip to your local job cebtre, that will give you a clear indication how much a drain on this country these communities are!!!!

M Jones, Staffordshire, UK

I've read the views, but I don't think the history is written yet.

When someone moves to another country (like many of my friends have, to Canada) one works hard because of a sense of need and guilt.

But once 10 years have passed, and the lessons learned, things change.

What worries me is that the immigrant population are going to face the same problems with cost-of-living, right to live in a decent area as the rest of us eventually. Once the novelties have worn off....

Equally, the stress and pressure of Britain is taking it's toll on mental health... (I work with mental health groups) and it strikes me that whilst the labourers work hard, they won't do it forever and will they want to work in Mental Health or Dentistry or Science and teaching? Do we all just want more and more shops?

My guess is that the immigrants, as nice and hard working as they are, haven't thought it all through. They are going to face the same England with the same limits that we all face soon enough!

simon, Oxford, UK

HA! Listen to all the English natives complaining about losing their country to migrants. As an expat who is stealing one of your jobs in London, I don't need statistics to learn that migrants are harder working. The lazy ones stay at home in their own countries, and sit in pubs complaining about how unfair the world is. Like it or not, the same applies in England, or in any western country for that matter where the hard work is always done by the migrants, and where the highly skilled and highly motivated move abroad to find better lives.

Mark, London, UK

If you are going to write about a subject please show ALL the facts. They may bring 6bn into the economy, but the government have today also admitted that the cost of immigration to the british people is 8bn (£350.00 per household to be precise). I don't call a deficit of 2bn a good thing - but hey as long as businesses benefit from cheap labour and the good old british public keep picking up the tab, what the heck.....

Kath, Notts,

I don't need immigration for my forthcoming pension, so don't kid yourslelf Ben. I have already paid in over many years for my pension and various governments have prudently ensured that this money is shortly to become available for me, I have no doubt.

What is devastating is the destruction of my English culture. I go into restaurants and can't understand the staff, I see funny looking buildings erected to worship some strange alien God, and I see people running around in odd clothes hiding their faces. Very un-English and I don't like it!

Chris, Poole, UK

In the battle to regulate immigation, narrow measures of economic success are triumphing over the need to preserve our culture and lifestyle.

Why? Because English culture and lifestyle doesn't have a chequebook!

Mike Hart, London, UK

The welfare and benefit system was overstretched long before the current wave of immigration, by people in this country to idle to get off their backsides. Now we have had a collective kick by a group of immigrants who are not scroungers or layabouts. Of course there is concern, but this will pass and the next generation will equally contribute to the economy of their adopted country. Next time you go to the Supermarket remember who put the food on the shelves, from the field to your basket, we brits consider the work to lowly to hard and without much financial incentive.

Tom, Milton Keynes, England

There's heaps of areas, including whole countries, in Britain that are underpopulated. Given that England can absorb 50 million people, surely Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales could absorb another 10 million or so between them? At the present rate of migration - which I don't see letting up any time soon, so around 300,000 net gain per year, after taking into account those natives fleeing to sunnier less crowded places like Australia and Spain - we should reach 70 million people some time in the next 20 to 30 years.

Not claiming benefits? Hah! I know heaps of immigrants who can't wait to get their benefits once they qualify. And why not? They work for fairly low wages, so tax credit alone would make a huge difference to their incomes, never mind housing benefit.

As to the Poles, all that effort our fathers went to in WWII to liberate Poland, only for the politicians to then gift Poland to Russia at the end of the war? The least we can do is welcome them with open arms!

KDA, Edinburgh, Scotland

Of course migrants are more motivated- I'd be more motivated if I was earning vastly more than I would at home and was able to send it back, knowing that it would improve my life when I returned. With local house prices 9 times my salary as a teacher I'm unable to buy a house and have to find a housemate- strangely enough, 90% of those who've applied are Eastern European with poor English. Every day Puritanical Labour tells me that I'm a drain on the NHS for having a few glasses of wine, driving to work or breathing. Am I motivated? No.

Dan, Oxford, England

Let the Brits find out how difficult it is without them when the buses and trains wont run, health service grinds to a halt, food does not get served...

Isn't this a normal day for the UK?

Ed, London,

Some facts:

Why do people think immigrants can vote and will vote labour. First you need to apply to be an British Citizizen, a seven year process and then you can vote. Lots of European migrants won't d that.

Everywhere around the world migration brings in economic benefits. There is no net cost!!!

Arthur, Hove, UK

Only £6 billion? That's a drop in the ocean compared to the extra costs borne by the NHS and Local Authorities.

For example, have you ever wondered why your Council Tax is going through the roof while your Local Council can only afford to empty your bins once a fortnight?

The main reasons why there are so many immigrant workers in the UK are:-

1. It creates extras demand in the housing market - a bubble whose continuing expansion is the only thing that's been propping up the UK economy (i.e. keeping Labour in power) for the past 5 years.

2. Too many British youngsters come out of the education system with deluded visions of what they can aspire to - and consequently have an attitude that prevents them from being interested in the 'grafting' jobs that hard-working immigrants lap up.

The whole thing - created in its entirety by Bliar's socialist social experiment - is a huge ticking time-bomb. I'm glad I'll be several hundred miles away when it goes off.

Jon Leigh, Southern, France

The problem is that it's all a big smokescreen to increase the immigrant vote for Labour. Nothing to do with economics at all.

Doug, Glasgow,

I don't think anyone is against immigration where people are making a contribution and taking personal responsibility for integrating into the community (ie learning the language, taking care of themselves). What cannot continue to happen (we can't afford it!!) is this open door policy where people arrive, are given homes, healthcare, education and handouts without any sign of any contribution. Note: this is NOT every immigrant and I personally appreciate the hard work of those who do come here to contribute. We need to set some standards about who can and cannot enter this country - qualifications, job, income etc. Other countries (Austrailia/US - and many more) do, why can't we.... at a practical level we don't have the space, and financially we can't continue to support it.

Sharron, Oxford,

there is a price to pay for immigration time will tell,we are an island not like rest of europe.?

victor, kettering, uk

Why should the immigrants that come and work, and make a contribution to society be a problem? It's the ones that just come, and sponge off of benefits that are.

Working or not, a line needs to be drawn somewhere.

Andrew, Edinburgh,

Unfortunately I cannot agree with the economic argument. How on earth can the economic output of migration be computed when the government has admitted it has not got a clue as to how many of these people are actually living and working in Britain?

I agree with the findings that the negative social cost of this mass experiment has been outstanding - I only have to walk around the city centre of where I work or use public transport to see that i.e. overcrowding, many having "a day off from work" (or perhaps they don't work at all...). Also, I like to wonder how many of these people are taking advantage of a benefits system that is in utter chaos/ completely mis-managed in terms of delivery.

Michael, Manchester,

Ben of London should take note, you are not paying the pensions of our grandparents how dare you insult us. Do you send money home to your parents or family? Are you here for a better living or just for what you can get and then go home.
British people are hard working and the future generations of our country will struggle to get employment if immigrants keep coming here for our benefit culture.

Paul, Leics,

how dare anyone speak negatively of them when they are creating SIX BILLION A YEAR. surely that far outweights the tiny number who have signed up for benefits, or are using education and health services. these are our fellow europeans, we're all in this together.

aran hennessy, brookeborough, UK

Labour views us merely as "workers". They refer to "migrant workers" and "native workers". We are not their workers. This is our country and it is about time we took is back from New Labour.

And it is about time that New Labour stopped referring to the British people as lazy and work-shy. It is little wonder that many migrants believe that they are the super-race and that without them, Britain would sink. What tosh!!!

anthony, London, UK

Is this the same Government that said only 13,000 would come here, from the new counties in the EU.
There are lies, dam lies, then there is the Labour party, but that is known as spin.

A Walton, Leicester, England

The time for debate about immigration is long gone - it has happened, and will continue indefinitely at a substantial pace. The benefits in economic and political terms are undeniable and in any case we have no way to stop it. Without a totalitarian society with a hefty police presence around the whole coast people will come, and in large numbers. There are a billions of poor people out there.

But we can't just continue life as before. Massive investment in housing and infrastructure of all kinds is needed. Roads, railways, schools, hospitals, water systems. Scrap the green belt and get building millions of heavily subsidised houses for all, or we can expect serious social problems in the next decade.

When you already have several million people from other places living with you it's really a bit silly to be debating whether it is a good idea or not. And even whether it is financially beneficial - it's much too late for that discussion.

Colin, Shrewsbury, UK

I cant tell how much laughter all this babblin has brought me. I was born in britiain but from a common wealth country but i work 7 nights straight 12hrs a day with few days off here n there. I dont send money home n pay my taxes. I must say Britain was built on immigration after the romans departed these shores. Findout what globalisation is then you can complain. Having a choice of goods in ur supermarket is an effect of globalisation.The industries will go if not for immigrants,either way britain will have to loose something to gain alot or loose all to gain nothing. This is reality today. St. Patric's flag which the english identify with n hold dearly is adopted from another country. Look around you cos you are an immigrant too. You are no different to the black/asian/eastern european siting next to you on the bus. Help bring about a reasonale solution and dont become the problem. No man is an island. Make the best of what you have n stop complaining cos it aint goin to change son.

Adegbola, London, UK

The best way to implement this is not to have any socialist "safety net", slash the government by 90% and just make sure if anyone commits serious crimes that they get serious penalties. All of that's all true for both the native born and foreign population.

The only real immigrant specific issue is making sure they learn the language and integrate into the mainstream so you don't end up with ghettos. However, the latest arrivals seem to be fairly widespread.

The solution is certainly not low immigration, high wages, consequent high unemployment and more social handouts while mom, pop and 10 kids stay home, watch football and curse immigrants.

Cato, los angeles, CA

How many immigrants work in the black economy contributing nothing, but still manage to claim & receive benefits. These statistics are confusing & deceitful, made up by never-worked-in-the-real-world university educated civil servants whos role is to treat the British public as idiots who will listen to this multi-culturalism brain washing hidden as governmental statistical information. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants are a drain on Britain & its economy, not a benefit. Migrants from many developing nations fail to pay their way. Fewer than half of Britain's 650,000 Somalis, Bangladeshis, Turks & Pakistanis, have jobs & the 4 communities have the highest levels of benefit dependency. Britains fastest-growing migrant group, Poles, score above-average for employment, but have the lowest hourly pay & make a below-average tax contribution. Also 1 in 5 crimes in London is committed by foreigners, with Poles, Jamaicans, Irish & Somalis top of the list & are a further drain on the economy

michael pickles, bournemouth, england

Immigration!- is it good? is it bad? in this debate we can't have an absolute answer.
The reason=little is beautiful, more than enough is harmful. here everyone is commenting based on their opinions and experiences and knowledge..and such comments tends to be onesided and unfair in most cases.
Lets agree: immigration brings both benefits and drawbacks. its pointless arguing on it. make your own list for it.
the point of concern is if the drawbacks are more than benefits? is it harming the society and country of brits? or even immigrants themselves?......Yes, it is. We don't know by how much exactly is immigration high but we all certainly do know its uncontrolled and it is bringing chaos to communities and shadowing the advantages.
This is what needs to be tackled.And by the government.
Brits: put urself in an immigrants shoes-what are they here for?
Immigrants: put urself in brits' shoes-n see wat they r losing because of u.
now both can think properly to find a sol..n.

RK, Surrey,

If immigration is so good for the economy, and they are contributing so much, ask yourselves this, why are we being bled dry with personal taxes, they can't be contributing that much. Having said that, Poles really do work hard, and they are a benefit to this country. for the rest, well if Asians and Africans work so hard why are they third world, they can't work that hard.

preddo53, leeds, UK

If mass immigration is such a good idea, how come that the UK is the only country in the world to allow it?

tony, birmingham, uk

I agree with A Khan, in that there are plenty of people who simply sit around all day, inhaling benefits which are paid for by people who can actually be bothered to work.

If there are people willing to work, and work hard, without any of this nursery-school attitude of "I'm entitled to (pretend to) be sick every couple of days and still be paid for it", then they're welcome to it. A hard-working, honest populace will help Britain far more than a country of British "benefitters", and if we have to look abroad for hard workers, so be it.

Laziness should get one nowhere, but instead it's getting a lot of people a long way (from the sofa to the fridge and back at 10am on a Monday, for example).

Sarah Phillips, Angers, France

It's amazing how many English people find an easy target for their supposed or actual woes...

If I wanted to have an extension built on a house, and I can [figuratively] pay english builders £100 to do it, or some harder working chaps with interesting accents £75, I know where I'll spend my money.

That also means that I can invest the £25 difference in something else.

There are many posters here who would benefit from a bit of practical knowledge of how economics works.

As to the old one of 'they are taking our jobs', err that would be the same jobs that are covered by the minimum wage wouldn't it?

So those complaining have a few choices:
- work harder
- learn another skill/trade
- move to somewhere where YOUR skills are needed
- stop whinging and get on with it

Since the influx of many folk who are now staffing hotels, pubs and restaurants I have noticed a distinct improvement in service, they listen, communicate better and actually work harder.

Survival of the fittest indeed!

Jason Scrutton, London,

Please, please Sir Andrew, stand for office. Yours appears to be one of only too few sane and objective voices on the subject of immigration, controlled or otherwise. The present fiasco can be laid at the feet of both main political parties, neither of which managed to see the problem coming for the past 15 years or so.

Tony Adams, Deal, Kent

They hate you because when they see you making a success of living in Britain it reminds them how much they have failed.
JonB, Glasgow, UK

SPOT ON.

Pablo, london,

Everything in life is about survival of the fittest. same with immigration

Pablo, london,

malcolm x had a saying: 'the chickens coming home to roost' it serves you right for colonising half the world and then not expecting your new 'subjects' to come and live the life in 'jolly old england' why dont you all pack up from perrenporth to newcastle and move to pakistan, zimbabwe,afghanistan, india and iraq because thats exactly where bush wants you to be anyway, fighting in his crusade for a 'free and democratic world'

naz, london,

i cant see any problem with the influx of migrent workers at all. they work harder than most of the native workers, dont overcharge for work, dont take sick days, because they have to pay for it when they do (the nhs does not pay for healthcare to non uk citizens) they dont get a pension when they retire, and yet they still pay tax in this country. most of their kids speak better english than english kids so there is no problem there. as for the 'incresed crime' and pressure on housing, this is because there is not enough houses, not because there is too many immegrents. the people that see a problem with this influx are bound to be the people that try to get away with as little work for as much money, and are annoyed that the bussiness is going to workers from eastern europe for less money. i had a quote from a plumber to fix a leaking tap, he quoted £45, i called another, equally qualified eastern european plumber that a friend recomended, £7 + materials (£2 for some tape)

james m, norwich, norfolk

You would expect immigrants to be more productive than natives because the immigrants almost by definition are yound, fit and enterprising people who are prepared to make big changes in their lives to better themselves. They are not a random sample of people but self-select for these qualities.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

This article only reveals half the facts. See the Daily Mail web page for the rest of the facts.

KH, Greater Manchester, UK

I honestly don't see the problem with immigration as long as the migrants speak our language fluently, intigrate into our culture not try and convert us to theirs and work for a living. Let's face it...most immigrants actually do this, there is only a small minority that don't and unfortunately they tend to get the press attention.

Sally, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

In a Nut Shell Dan.

There are still hard working people in this country who are from this country.
We are not all bums claiming benefits like some migrants have claimed.

Steve, Birmingham, England

yeah, the eastern europeans are hardworking because thats there culture, i bet most of the other immigrants we let in arnt though, as proven by the ridiculous amount of foriegn gangs seen in london, somalian gangs, west african gangs, tamil gangs.

leo holker, islington,

Being English is decidedly overrated. The verdict seems to be that immigrants have better skills and a better attitude toward work than the indigenous population. If you're hoping that some alternative political party will ban immigration, they better be prepared to get the English to get off their backsides and acquire some employable skills.

Dave, London,

Would repatriation or swap of all 'true Britz' from the US, Aus. NZ sort it? Would the expulsion of all Jews, Irish, French, Scandinavians, Germans, Greeks, Italians et al since about 1500 or put the lid on it? Ask where would GB inc. [or any other western country] be today without them. This is not New Lab. or the Torries fault or something Fascism could cure, learn from your history and check out how many 'guest workers' West Germany imported after WW2, how much foreign and domestic forced labour it employed and finally how many thousands of Nazi 'engineers' and others were imported here or exported to Canada, the US and South America. It capitalism at its best: globalization. There are plusses and minuses but mostly plusses you will find.

Nicholas Xenakis, Borough, London, England

The UK needs skilled immigrants. We do not however need unskilled/uneducated people imigrants, we have enough of those already thanks to our numerous appalling state schools. When you combine this with religion you have a demographic problem.

We should encourage new immigrants to want to be British, to fight for team UK., put down roots and contribute to society. So many British people put the UK down while doing nothing to try to improve things.

On the downside, a friend who lives in Devon tells me many of his old school mates are finding it hard to get decent paid work, combined with huge house prices and that being unemployed often pays more if you have a family.

roger, london,

Are the views expressed in these comments representative of that of the silent majority? I cannot imagine that migrants are so deeply resented in a cosmopolitan country that is at the peak of an economic cycle with low unemployment rate. What will happen when there is a recession?

Tortue, Hong Kong,

Ben, London

They hate you because when they see you making a success of living in Britain it reminds them how much they have failed.

JonB, Glasgow, UK

Mass Immigration is undemocratic; The whole emphasis is on the indigenous population being classed as racist for seeing generationally established norms - a product of long history - be replaced and substituted by a short termist Labour party looking for a new voter base. However, there is nothing wrong with immigration per se as long as it is regulated and fair. And mutli-cultural seen for what it is - bottom up colonisation. The last word though is that the British themselves are largely to blame: not appreciating hardwork; education or poor respect for family, community and society. Bolstered by the wrong type of liberalism that rewards or excuses bad behaviour and a welfare state that supports it along with the intellectual corruption that bullies everyone into silence for disagreeing with it.

Steve, Harrow , London

I'm seeing an ever increasing number of immigrant "Big Issue" sellers. I guess we must have solved our problems of homelessness to the point we can afford to import more.

Ellen Morris, Leeds,

It`s all going to end in tears !

Gary, Bournemouth,

How about some 'joined thinkng'? We hear that 1 in 4 children sent to schools now are of immigrant parents. We hear that 1 in 5 leaving primary school have no command of English - hello!

Immigration is now a factor colouring all areas of policy, and should be near the top of any analysis of health, education, housing, employment, transport, law and order...

Why the BBC eg continually screen this out is baffling, or in fact a major symptom of its 'media liberal comfort zone'

Jake, Witney, UK

Working conditions should be respected by all. Companies should not be allowed to use migrant workers as they are prepared to 'work harder' . Society has worked for many years to establish a system where people have the right to be respected in their work place and not be used as slaves. For some things we should perhaps be a little more like the French......

ED, london,

Now come on, what else did you expect an offical government report to say, hell fire they invented spin, lies and whitewash or did they get it from the previous totalitarian states of the Eastern Bloc from where they took their views on how to run a nanny state?
It is clear that the open door policy Britain has given to the world is really about destroyng the UK way of life and whilst everyone knows what is going on we seem powerless to stop it. This country badly needs a leader,it hasn't had one since Margaret Thatcher's days in office and most traditional labour supporters know this and will not admit to having voted for what wev'e got!

Mike Nainby, Scunthorpe,

Immigration has done the USA so many favours? It mightbe better for the businessmen but your average (English) Joe is being made unemployed because of the low wages. Multiculturalism is a virus that is slowly eating our national values and will be the end of this great nation

Emmanual Golstein, London, England

Where I live the local bus company re-drafted all employers contracts which meant that they were to work any shift that the company requested. In other words the bus drivers were on call out...and for less money. Now there are a lot of Polish drivers working the buses, since they are the only ones prepared to take on the new contracts. It has made using the bus an enriching experience since they struggle to speak English and have no local knowledge of the bus routes.

Kevin, Portsmouth, UK

A Government Study? Must be OK then...

Nicholas Lee, Windsor, UK

Hear Hear Jonathan!

James, Lomdon, England

If immigrants are so hard working, how come that the centre of Birmingham is full of them any time between 1100 and 1600 - are they all working nights?

tony, birmingham, uk

Such hypocrisy! Here are the migrants, working longer for less pay (robbed by employers), paying higher tax on essentials imported from their home countries (robbed by government) and unable to access social services when vulnerable (robbed by those who get 'native' benefits). In particular, people of African heritage endure such high extent of social exclusion. If you go into business for yourself, the natives never patronise you. Yet they grasp and peer closely at your money. Its all take and complain. Buy a house here and they move to your country, and complain in your country about immigrants! Then, more complaining about any money you send home to prepare for your return. Have no fear. We know to be self-sufficient. We don't want your 'benefits'.

immi grant, City, UK

In the end it is all about money.

More migrant, more money. Will this nation sacrifice all those economic advantages brought by migration ? If you answer yes then this nation can totaly stop migration. I guess the more rich you are the more you want (and you need more people to work for you to expand the strong economy you have) and this nation will keep accepting people in.

Kojak, Glassgow, Scotland

I agree with Ben, without immigrants, Britains original people will be hopeless. Where do you find a proper british person working in sainsburys, on a bus, at a petrol station, in a restaurant - because them kind of jobs require non-pride attitude, and hard work. And British people do not see that life is not just about earning and spending the weekend boozing.

salman khan, London,

Like the curate's egg, mass migration is good in parts but as the Government has now acknowledged, when a vast wave of newcomers arrive in a country, the existing infrastructure is rarely ready for them. With property prices at record levels, roads choked with traffic, health and educational services stretched to breaking point, one wonders why the whole immigration situation wasn't handled in a more controlled way. In time, assimilation may eradicate the social and religious prejudices that abound in Britain at present but I doubt there will ever be a 'catch up' on the more material aspects of mass immigration. Just where will the extra housing, hospitals and schools come from? Truly a badly botched programme.

Colin Cumner, Adelaide, , South Australia.

How on earth do they come up with these figures? Avg wages, benefit to economy £6b when most immigrants work illegally.
How does putting native British people on the dole help British people and the economy??
Visiting London last week I realised I now belong to an ethnic minority 'white englishman''

Tony, Formby, UK

If the Eastern European migrants are so industrious, conscientious, ane enterprising, why are their own countries not successful enough to support and employ them?
I am sick of the ordinary Briton being castigated. It is our centries of hard work and adaptability which has made this country thrive.
Not to mention fighting two World Wars and delivering such countries from tyrants.
We failed to train our own, or the industries did so now we use , poach, cheap labour.
Do they think the Brits are stupid.
Stand up for yourselves, only donkeys drudge!

Lois Crofton, Worthington, Leicestershire

Mass immigration can be beneficial for the economy, but the cultural consequences can be devastating, we are witnessing this now with the extremely high levels of crime in Afrocaribbean communities and Islamic terrorism. The Labour government in my opinion has swolloed a poison pill and things will neer get better, there will be more violence, higher costs of living, more division between ethnic groups. This is all Blair's fault. Labour get away with this, but the population doesn't do anything to change this, so its not just Labour's fault. I blame the British population for not giving a damn about social affairs and ultimately for not giving damn about their country.

James, London,

Excuse me... LC from Basingstoke and A Khan of Londone - I work exceptionally hard for poor wages, recieve no benefits at all because I am not entitled to any. Please dont tell me you work harder! I also pay tax and National Insurance of which some goes for your medical expenses especially those of you who choose to fall pregnant and use the NHS for the pre and post natal care. I also contribute by way of tax for interpreters to be employed when immigrants are arrested and pretend not to speak English - which is a huge cost to the UK tax payer. So please do not tell me to get off my backside or accuse me of scrounging of the government. If you dont like it go and live in France or Germany?

KC, Devon, UK

The only group of people to beneifit from the influx of mass immigration are the bosses, yep you know, the ones that are paying less for labour costs but still charging the same for their products.
This great tory inspired labour government of ours has pandered for far too long to these people, and all of the conditions & wages that working class have fought to achieve over the years are being squandered away by this crazy policy on mass immigration.
As for everyone beneifiting, you would have to be a half wit of the highest order to believe that.

Pete Fone, St Albans, England

Immigrants £6 billion, having our own country - priceless.

jasper, chelmsford,

The 'official' view now means Labour's view, the civil service now being thoroughly politicised. The one objective view will no doubt be that of Sir Andrew Green on his migration watch website. 'Officials' now are spin doctors for government.
But uncontrolled immigration has been repeatedly voted for by the electorate: at each of the last 3 elections the Tories have offered the alternative of controlled and diminished immigration, so don't complain, you all voted for it, you could have had a very different approach.
If home grown workers are lazy, illiterate, incompetent - surely that means the government's education policy is in tatters?

Blackstone, Oxford, UK

An economy based on slave wage, imported labour really isnt sustainable in the long term, but it does have a short term deflationary effect on wages, giving the appearence of prosperity for a small section of the UK population. It wont last, eventually migrants wont have to travel as their own economies expand and wages will have to rise in the UK. Supply and demand will always win in the end.

Brian Porter, Craigavon, Cydonia, Mars

Reading all the positives on migrants is there any value left in having an indigenous population? Could Labour show the way and replace themselves with migrant politicians at least they couldn't be any worse as they are proved to add value!

Alan, Luton,

This is Labours master plan, import hard working cheap immigrants (allow them the vote) most likely going to vote Labour.

Employers have access to cheap workers and can hire and fire as it suits them. They vote Labour.

Work shy council bums have no need to work (immigrants are doing all the hard work), they get benefits & houses, they vote Labour. This lot then breed get even more benefits and this ensures Labour with a foundation for the new generation of Labour voters.

Dan, London, UK

survival of the "fittest"...that's all i can say!!....

VM, bangalore, india

Why is it so easy for all these anti-immigration pseudo-BNP voters to believe that the country is in a perpetual state of decline, especially when faced with hard evidence to the contrary? The UK is an amazing place to live, and by supporting our economy and opening our eyes to other cultures migrant workers have made it even better. We should be thanking them - it's something they don't hear often.

Mark, Omagh, Northern Ireland, UK

It's globalism for you that's all. all the techy and trade jobs are leaving britain for cheaper working destinations whilst all the service industry jobs are being done by immigrants (usually from poland). Its good for only the government and corporations. if you like globalism then it's great. I don't though. There is this balkanisation question too and the influx of immigrants will eventually kill britain but then we won't be britain for long because emperor brown wants to sell us out to europa. Britain will be part of a superstate in europe which will also see america merge first with it's north american neighbours and then eventually with the south. as will the asia's. you're going to be looking at a world with 5 governments and globalism is the way to get there.

simon lomax, warrington, uk

Migrants clearly make a positive contribution to the economy. The trouble is, the exchequer takes all the extra tax receipts and wastes them, so there is no improvement in public services, resulting in extra pressure and tension because of the increased population

Zac, Oxford,

It's strange how people not old enought to remember a time when Britain was not "multi-cultural" keep banging on about the advantages of this new society we have.Well I recall a country where you could speak your own mind without fear of the "thought police" taking you to court, and for me that was priceless.You did not also have the views of "the black police federation" or "black lawyers" or "Muslim Council" etc.etc.broadcast like some kind of propaganda against the English.
In actual fact the Daily Mail says that immigrants now cost the average person in this country hundreds of pounds a year so their interpretation of the report differs from the Times.

Mike, Dunstable, England

I work for a micro finance company and 90% of our clients are "English" and on benefits - many have told me that they can't be bothered to work and would earn more claiming benefits. Yes these are my tax contributions that are paying the "English" benefits.

Raja, Birmingham, UK

The issue of immigration is a hot and controversial one. the British complain that many people are flooding their country yet they forget that they are the ones who started it. Britain colonised Africa, enslaved them and plundered their resources Africans are now here to reclaim their wealth and the British now cry foul.The chickens have now come to roost, as a result,the British must be quiet. They must worry about the East Europeans not Africans.I have a question:Why do the whites hate the blacks yet most of them love to wear black clothes?No one can separate black and white- look at your roads,signs, newspapers etc.-food for thought.

Needmore, Liverpool, UK

Today's report is saying that mass immigration is putting huge pressure on housing, schooling and the health service. Who would have guessed?

Paul, Luton, Bedfordshire

First, eastern europeans will increase white population. Second, working immigrants are not better off, despite higher mean wages.They work longer hours, do not go on holidays, work on weekends etc. They will all die around the age of 60, they will be overworked. Second generation (children of the first wave immigrants), however, are going to affect english culture. And that is where ordinary UK people come into play. They should try and socialise with immigrants and teach them The way of the UK.

Igor Legen, Ljubljana, Slovenia

I work for a recruitment agency and can confirm that the majority of migrants have the right attitude when it comes to work. Most are not content with signing on and feel compelled to give back to this country by working.

Unfortunately this is not the same with some of us Brit's and the amount of times we are let down or provided with weak excuses for getting out of work is exceptionally frustrating.

There will always be good and bad, but it's not what country you come from that makes a dam bit of difference, it's the fact that we are all human and have different thoughts, priorities and motivations. Lets not focus on the negative but strive to make this country and ultimately the planet a better place for everyone.

Ryan , East Sussex, UK

This is blatant propaganda based on an analysis of statistics which is either dishonest or moronic. To set up an economic competition between the native people and immigrants, on our own soil, is not the action of a responsible government but the stuff of nightmares. There is clear evidence that whole mass immigration experiment, which most people have always opposed in any event, is going catastrophically wrong.

Stu G, London,

6bn ? ok thats on the revenue side. What about the cost? Crime, such as murders and rapes and muggings. healthcare costs, I very rarely hear an english name either at my local surgery or hospital clinic. also many send money home so the supposed boost to the economy is not real.
Please someone give us an objective view.
Hyperbole on both sides of this argument is plain naive and childish.
this is a serious topic and should be approached with digniyty and respect.

Andy, London,

What interests me is that so many people with right wing political views are the ones who think that immigration is a problem? As this article states, a far smaller percentage of migrant workers take sick days, they work longer hours for less money. Surely for people who through their political stance should hold staunch pro-capitalist, pro-globalist views, this is an ideal situation. As it means more money, more money, more money. Or perhaps the people who have real issue with migrants are people looking for someone for the fact that their life is not perfect. I say look a little closer to home.

Max Dennis, Redruth, Cornwall

To quote one of my English bosses on the phone to a job agent, discussing a prospective employee:

"Who have you got; not another Englishman? I'd much rather an Australasian or a Sputh African if you can find one thanks. Someone who'll just do it without complaining"

I am a kiwi working in construction as a professional. I fully concur with my boss, and reading these comments its hard not to.

Bill, London,

If these people are so hard working, why aren't they back in Poland etc expanding its economy by £6 billion? There must be someone there who needs their services.

CA, Manchester, England

So if immigrants believe they are contributing to our old age pensions who do they think will contribute to theirs, more immigrants? And If they are so damn good why are their home countries such failures, All we need now are reservations for the indigenous population or perhaps concentration camps,.

Steve P, Leeds, England

We most definitely do need immigrants to come and work in this country and many contribute very successfully to the economy. However, there has to be MORE control over who is coming in and also the government seriously needs to look at providing more dentists, doctors, etc to provide for the influx of people. I do agree with Ben, in that most immigrants are hard working individuals and do many jobs that the indigenous people do not want to do.

K Law, Leicester, UK

Richard,

In answer to your question, the money I have earnt while working overseas will probably end up going back to the UK, which is exactly the point I am making.
I do not consider myself a class above anyone, nor would I 'treat' anyone other than I would like to be treated myself. I am merely asking a question. The government is trying to tell us that their policy of uncontrolled immigration is benefitting UK citizens and I beg to differ.
I currently live in a country where immigration is strictly controlled; where there is no free healthcare or benefit system to abuse; where there is little crime, and the populace is happy.

Paul, Singapore,

I regret to say that the social cost of this floodgate of immigration has done more harm then good. There is an acute shortage of housing caused by this immigration, which has resulted in the indiginous population being unable to buy or rent a property. Also, the extra pressure on services such as schools and medical services means that we Brits sometimes have to play second fiddle. I fail to see why our own people should be pushed into second place, because someone can be exploited by being paid a cheaper wage. It is time we looked after our own people.

K L Mason, Watford, Herts.

Migrants are the salt of any community. Without migrants, the British economy will crumble. The strain on the NHS is from the British who overdrink, over-eat and indulge in the vilest of health abuses. In over five years in this country, I have never taken in sick or gone to the GP. The jobs that the British refuse, the migrants are willing to do. Can you imagine what would have happened without cleaners on the streets, housekeepers in your hotels and drivers for your buses? All hail the migrant worker!!

Ebere Onyeme, Slough,

Paul, using an older population as an excuse is complete rubbish because your solving nothing for the future so perhaps you should be worrying about your own country!

John, Salford, England

Thought they were sending around £5/6 billion out of the economy (home) or doesn't that matter ?

John, Salford, England

How any English can continue to vote Labour is beyond me when Labour's manifesto clearly states that England is not English - it is Multicultural. The longer Labour are in power, the less English and the more Multicultural this country will become. The great thing is that in this country there ARE political parties whose stated aim is to stop and reverse mass immigration. When the English have finally had enough, those parties will come to power. People at least have a choice in this matter.

Jonathan, London, UK

You need immigrants. You're older population is living much longer, and the younger generation are having fewer kids. We immigrants are the ones paying the pensions of your grandparents. You should be thanking us, instead of abusing and hating us. I also don't understand why so many people seem to think that all migrants are claiming one kind of benefit or the the orther. What a myopic, small minded view. The vast majority of migrants are here to work hard to better their lives. In my area of inner London, Poles have opended shops and wine bars, the area has a new vibe. That's regeneration driven with private funds.

Ben, London, Uk

Our leaders are electing a new people.

Paul, Birmingham, England

Paul Where does your money go? I live in Germany and I am glad I do not get treated like the way we treat economic migrants! How do you get treated or do you conisder yourself some class above those around you?

Richard D, Plymouth, UK

I resent the comment that British tax payers are paying for my accommodation or anything else. On the contrary, as an immigrant I am paying more tax than majority of British public, millions of whom do nothing better than sit on their backsides and claim benefits. I pay the same tax as UK citizens but cannot claim any of the benefits. How fair is that ?

I would question the figures as 6Billion is way too low. But its not just the figures, look at the benefits the immigrants bring. I always ask for a Polish plumber or carpenter to do any repair jobs. Why ? They are better and politer than their British counter parts not to mention cheaper.

All immigrants should not work for a day. Let the Brits find out how difficult it is without them when the buses and trains wont run, health service grinds to a halt, food does not get served...

A. Khan, London,

If the British people do decide to withdraw from the UK, it will be interesting to see their economy go down the pan when they kick out all the essential workers!

Clive, Bath, UK

If a government study says so, then it must be true.
Publishing flawed reports such as this, does not disguise the realty that mass uncontrolled migration - as opposed to having a managed system allowing those on merit to come in first - has done much more harm than good.
Where's the article on the "separate Home Office report" mentioned here?

Matt , Tokyo, Japan

Oh well done, enshrine the already vast chip on migrants' shoulders. Multi-culturlaism has been the most comprehensive failure in British history - what does a pitifil £6 billion mean in a £trillion economy against such daunting failure? Is it any wonder the BNP are registering vast gains across the board when the only regress the government and media can cunjure? Pathetic.

Lee, London, UK

America was built on immigration. U.K. may need to take an example.

DJ, London,

How does it help the UK when much of the money they earn here is eventually repatriated?

Paul, Singapore,

Surprise surprise!!!!!! Is that not what was intended by allowing immigrants into the country. Government manages to keep the minimum wage down and lead us tax paying, English, citizens into paying for their housing benefit! Wake up Britain!

Jane, Hertfordshire, England

I don't know what all the fuss is about; it's makes perfect sense to replace the 'native' working class now covered by the minimum wage with a new generation of exploited underpaid workers who'll vote Labour.

Jonathan, Auckland, New Zealand

The issue as I see it is the Brits having a problem with us immigrants earning more than they do. Well news flash: We immigrants work harder and dont get a single benefit back. No council house, no child benefit, no tax credits NOTHING. We do however PAY our tax and National Insurance to keep you all in your government sponsored accommodations. We dont get to stay at home claiming job-seekers allowances or disability benefits. We contribute willingly for no return. Not even gratitude. Shame. Just as well that we dont expect it.

LC, Basingstoke, UK

If I had the opportunity to travel to a relatively liberal country with a higher standard of living and earn maybe 5 time as much as I could in my home country with relatively basic skills, I'd have a darned good work ethic too.

Graeme M, Brockley, London

Though I am not a migrant, and just a trained professional, working on a permit, I would like to appreciate your candidness in putting forward this statistics. Its very evident here that the local populace lacks the conviction and sincereity needed to boost certain industries. I would never like to suggest migration as equivalent to skilled workers coming here just to sell there hard earned experience. What I would expect from this country though that in terms of globalisation they have to accept skill over racial pride. As it has been proven since the last world war: the idea of racial superiority, and persecution of minorities eventually lead to the downfall of the country itself. Britain has been lucky to make the right choices before, question is will history repeat itself this time again?

SB, Manchesteer,

On this subject even most Labour voters think it is wrong to have an open door policy. The net quality of life has not improved for the people of this country. Housing, hospitals, schools and crime are all suffering. Communities cannot cope. Labour have damaged our childrens futures. This is not what brave men and women sacrificed their lives for in the Wars. Labour,You will not be forgiven.

KM, Birmingham, United Kingdom

How dare Labour treat the people of this country like idiots. Everybody knows the true cost of having all these new immigrants is costing us all a hell of a lot more than they are contributing. The long term impact is incalculable. Labour have betrayed the trust people of this counrty put in them. Its actually too late to turn this situation around. Good people are packing up and leaving this country and being replaced by Eastern European criminals running crime, drugs and prostitution and Muslims who we give sanctuary to and then they blow us up or refuse to fit in to our society and want to create an Islamic state. Even immigrants to this country are saying enough is enough. What is the cost, the real cost and not just in monetary terms?

KM, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Who is benefitting? The immigrants, and already rich businessmen on the whole. It is obvious that bringing in cheap labour from abroad drives down wages. That's why businessmen like immigration. Increasing numbers of people is bound to put more pressure on services. Much of the money immigrants earn will go out of the country, while natives of the UK will spend at home. And the level of immigration... not just recently, but for decades... has created social tensions that have made the UK a worse place to live. There's nothing wrong with immigration at a certain level, that allows people to integrate, and the local culture to remain... but successive UK governments have been short-sighted and this one continues to be.

John, London, UK

Liam Byrne needs to get out more. Go to Birmingham, Luton, Bradford or Leeds to name just a few. "White Flight" is taking place. In just a few years time these places will have a minority white population. This is fact. Is this good for the country? Many Towns are really struggling to cope with the huge numbers of Eastern Europeans moving in. The people of this country including earlier immigrants do not want this. Our Quality of life is suffering. A governments responsibility is to improve the lves of it citizens. Labour have failed miserably at this. The true cost must be unthinkable.

KM, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Oh good! The £100 per capita this represents per year is worth all the extra pressure on housing, the extra pressure on our schools (with some British children being held back by the inability of immigrant children to speak english), the exacerbation of crowding and congestion etc. etc. I'm giving the government the benefit of the doubt and assuming they haven't pulled the old trick they did last time: counting the extra output but not the extra heads. As usual with this government, it's our youngsters who will suffer. Their jobs will be lower paid as a result but houses are likely to be higher priced than they otherwise would have been. Do Labour not realise that we have now got used to their one sided accounting and hardly believe a word they say anymore? As has been said, Britain is full and it's increasing bloatedness is destroying our quality of life for a measly £100 each!

SP, Swansea, UK

Yes. And they COST the UK 8 Billion. A net LOSS of 2 Billion. More NuLab spin.

Malcolm Watson, Manchester, UK