New report challenges belief that current levels of immigration produce a net financial 'benefit' to nation.
October 31, 2002
In a thorough examination of the economic case for large-scale immigration,
the think-tank MigrationwatchUK reveals that the Home Office paper
making this claim has 'taken only average costs for health, housing,
education etc and has conveniently forgotten to include the considerable
costs of building new facilities.' As a result the group says they
are 'thoroughly misleading.'
In fact immigration is adding significantly to our population so that
facilities have to be built or expanded. For example, a recent report
for the Mayor of London predicted an increase in population of 700,000
over the next 15 years to 8.15 million, much of it due to international
migration. This would require 400,000 new houses and 130 new schools.
'When these costs are added the picture totally changes from
that repeatedly painted by those wishing to justify the largest
influx of immigrants in our history,' said Sir Andrew Green, the
group's Chairman.
