asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been made for work permits by persons from the Philippines in the last six months; and how many have been granted.

The latest figures available are for the six-month period ended 31st December 1974 in which 95 applications for work permits were received in respect of Filipinos and 35 permits were issued. For the same period 20 applications for permission to take employment were received from Filipinos already admitted to this country for purposes other than to work, and permission was given in 19 cases.