The economic argument
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
Perception: Asylum seekers, refugees and migrants are a drain on the UK economy.
Fact: Migrants more than pay their way in our society. Indeed, foreign-born people are a significant economic asset. Without their contribution, the average UK taxpayer would pay an extra penny in every pound in income tax.
A recent Home Office report estimated that foreign-born people - including refugees and asylum seekers - contribute around 10 per cent more to Government revenues than they receive in Government spending, equivalent to £2.5bn a year - or 1p on the basic rate of income tax.(1) Furthermore, Treasury minister Ruth Kelly has stated that the foreign-born population accounted for 10 per cent of UK GDP in 2001.(2) That is five times as much as North Sea oil.(3)
Perception: The cost of the UK asylum system has spiralled out of control and is a burden we cannot afford.
Fact: Less than one-tenth of a penny in every pound spent on public services this year will go to asylum seekers. According ...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
