asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many work permits have been issued in the past two years to (a) Bulgarian, and (b) Romanian nationals.[HL7993]
The numbers of work permits issued to workers of Bulgarian and Romanian nationality to work in the UK, for the period1 October 2004 to 30 September 2006, is in the table.
Nationality Oct 2004 – Sept 2005 Oct 2005 – Sept 2006 Total Bulgaria 2,382 1,637 4,019 Romania 2,201 1,697 3,898 Total 4,583 3,334 7,917
The numbers include both in-country and out-of-country approvals, but do not include extensions or in-country changes of employment. The numbers of approvals may not equal the numbers of workers of Bulgarian and Romanian nationality receiving work permit approval, as some individuals may have received more than one work permit during the period.
The figures quoted are not provided under national statistics protocols. They have been derived fromlocal management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Following their announcement that they will issue work permits only to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals seeking certain categories of employment, what plans they have for those currently working in other categories of employment in the United Kingdom when their visas expire.[HL7994]
Regulations in respect of Bulgarian and Romanian workers' access to the labour market will be laid before the House in due course. However, Bulgarian and Romanian nationals with a visa currently who have already completed12 months' legal work in the UK will generally be exempt from work permit restrictions in certain situations.
A national of Bulgaria or Romania is not an accession state national subject to worker authorisation if they have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under the 1971 Act and that leave is not subject to any condition restricting his employment.
A national of Bulgaria or Romania is not an accession state national subject to worker authorisation if they are legally working in the United Kingdom on31 December 2006 and have been legally working in the United Kingdom without interruption throughout the period of 12 months ending on that date.
A national of Bulgaria or Romania who legally works in the United Kingdom without interruption for a period of 12 months falling partly or wholly after 31 December 2006 shall cease to be an accession state national subject to worker authorisation at the end of that period of 12 months.