Government figures on immigration unravelling

THE government’s figures on immigration appeared to be unravelling last night, after Prime Minister David Cameron promised to limit free care and benefits to people coming from abroad to work.

The speech was overshadowed by confusion over how much is spent on NHS treatment of foreign nationals.

The government initially said it was between £10 million and £20m, but this was contradicted by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who suggested it was £200m.

In a later briefing the figure rose again, this time to £400m.

In his speech, Mr Cameron set out government plans to negotiate with other European states on making economically inactive migrants the responsibility of their home countries.

He said local and national taskforces will be set up to tackle businesses which use illegal immigrants in particular sectors and regions.

Private landlords will be told to check tenants’ immigration status, with “consequences” for those which fail to do so.

And on illegal immigration, Mr Cameron said the government was “rolling up that red carpet and showing them the door”.