And did you know that, in 2003, almost 140000 immigrants settled in the UK, a fifth up on the previous year, according to official figures? Sure some will be needed and will be most welcome, but how many are just welfare state scroungers?
BBC: UK government figures show that about 130,000 nationals from eight of the new member states - different rules apply for Cyprus and Malta as Commonwealth members - applied to work in the UK between May and December 2004. About 123,000 successfully obtained work permits.
According to Home Office estimates, the new workers - over half of whom have found permanent employment - pumped about £240m into the British economy during that time. Fears that migrant workers would act as a drain on the economy appear unfounded. More than 95% of incomers are working full time while the number drawing state benefits, according to the Home Office, are "very low"......
"The general opinion is that this migration has been beneficial," says Dr Martin Ruhs, from the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society at the University of Oxford..... "It continues to meet a need in terms of filling labour shortages and there have been no adverse effects such as a rise in unemployment levels."