Benefits of immigration undermined by Government incompetence

12.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Nov 2008

Commenting on the announcement that net immigration to the UK rose to 237,000 in 2007, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"The substantial benefits of immigration are being undermined by

Government incompetence, which has shattered public confidence in the system.

"These figures deal only with legal migration, but the truth is ministers have no idea how many illegal immigrants are living in Britain.

"Since the Tories and Labour abolished exit checks, we cannot know who is leaving the country. All immigration figures are guesstimates as a result."