To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK work permits have been issued to (a) Romanian and (b) Bulgarian nationals since the accession of those countries to the EU. (291067)

[holding answer 14 September 2009]: The number of work permits issued between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2008 to Romanian nationals is 1,690 and to Bulgarian nationals is 3,240.

Figures are rounded to nearest 5.

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.

The figures equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted a work permit. Not all those who were granted a work permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain.