One in 10 in Britain born overseas

Statistics compiled by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have suggested that one in ten people living in Britain was born overseas.

London, June 26 : Statistics compiled by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have suggested that one in ten people living in Britain was born overseas.

The last census, six years ago, suggested 4.3 million people in Britain were born abroad.

A Telegraph report quotes the OECD's annual International Migration Outlook as saying that in 2005, about 5.8 million out of a total of 60 million (9.7 percent) were born overseas. In recent years, about half a million people have come to live in Britain every 12 months.

The OECD attributes much of the recent increase to the decision not to impose labour market restrictions on eastern Europeans joining the EU in 2004. As a result, at least 650,000 have registered to work and many more have come as self-employed.

The 4.3 million foreign-born Britons at the time of the 2001 census was itself an increase of about one million compared to 1991. The OECD said the total rose another 1.5 million in only five years - the fastest rate of growth in British history.

Unless action is taken, ministers said recently, there is a "critical risk" that the mass immigration of recent years will fracture society.

Last week, the Government launched an impact forum to gauge how migration is affecting public services and community harmony.

ANI