Labour clueless on immigration

MINISTERS have no idea how many immigrants are coming to Britain, according to a damning report by MPs.

WORRY Public services are in danger of collapsing WORRY: Public services are in danger of collapsing

The official statistics are “totally inadequate” for grasping the scale of population changes, the Parlia-mentary investigation has concluded. [>

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As a result, public services are in danger of collapsing because the lack of reliable data means the Government is incapable of planning ahead. [>

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The scathing attack is due from the Commons Treasury sub-committee on Thursday. [>

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Ahead of the publication,  chairman Sir Michael Fallon revealed his shock at the lack of immigration data that his investigations uncovered. [>

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The leading Tory said MPs had been “stunned to learn that there was no reliable source of information”. The MPs’ report provides further vindication of the determination of the Daily Express to highlight the issue of immigration. In the past, this newspaper has been criticised by ministers for raising concerns. [>

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But now MPs from all Westminster parties are recognising the impact of Labour’s policy of mass immigration. [>

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The criticism comes as annual migration figures are due out today from the Office of National Statistics. [>

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Last year’s update showed 316,000 people came to Britain intending to stay for a year or more, enough to fill a city the size of Coventry. [>

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Official statistics suggest 2.3million migrants have come to Britain – while 715,000 people have moved abroad – since Labour came to power in 1997. [>

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MPs fear that the true figure may be far higher. [>

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Sir Michael warned that population miscalculation was “distorting spending allocations” for Government departments and councils “across the field of policymakers”. [>

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It means hospitals, schools, roads, the rail network, housing stock and town hall services are all creaking under the strain of rapid population growth. [>

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Sir Michael called for an overhaul of Government population research, arguing that “accurate, up-to-date and independent statistics are the cornerstone of democracy”. [>

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The main source of data – an annual survey of passengers travelling through British airports – needed to be replaced. [>

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Sir Michael’s comments were backed by Shadow Home Secretary David Davis who said: “If the Government cannot count the numbers of immigrants, they can’t control them. [>

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“It must be assumed that the Government’s lax handling of migration data is deliberate because they do not want people to know the true rise of immigration levels in the UK.” [>

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The Local Government Association, which represents town halls, agreed that lack of data was hampering attempts to provide local services. [>

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Chairman Sir Simon Milton said: “No one has a real grasp of where or for how long migrants are settling. So funding for local services isn’t getting to the right places.” [>

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The Home Office said a programme to improve migration statistics would be showing results by 2011-12. [>

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