To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued for (a) doctors and (b) nurses and auxiliary nurses from (i) Nigeria, (ii) Ghana and (iii) other African countries in 2006. (149262)

The following table shows the number of work permit applications which were approved for overseas nationals, in 2006 from (a) Ghana, (b) Nigeria and (c) other African countries in 2006. There have been no approvals for auxiliary nurses.

The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.