Express
November 29, 2013
The numbers are being fuelled by citizens from the EU’s poorest countries arriving in search of jobs or benefits.
In all, 503,000 people including 183,000 EU citizens came to Britain in the year to June, while 320,000 left.
It means net migration officially stands at 182,000 – when the figures are rounded up – a rise of 15,000 on the previous year, the Office for National Statistics said.
Separate figures from the Department for Work and Pensions point to a rise in citizens from ailing eurozone countries.
The number of National Insurance numbers given to Italians rose to nearly 40,000, up 52 per cent, while 50,000 Spaniards registered for work, up 40 per cent, and 28,000 Portuguese, up 45 per cent.
Significantly, the data shows 35,000 foreigners claimed benefits within six months of getting the right to work.