Member News
Communities secretary Hazel Blears is setting out what action the government is taking to manage migration.
This includes a £12m programme of improvements to the way migration data is collected, a fund to help all local services manage the impact of migration, and tougher penalties on those who exploit vulnerable workers.
The plans were outlined in a report published on Wednesday.
Blears said the first specialist team designed to help local councils cope with the massive influx of immigrants will begin work this summer.
Breckland District Council in Norfolk will receive three experts from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Speaking at the launch, she said the council saw its population rise by more than 1,300 in 2005/06, almost entirely due to the arrival of immigrants from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Portugal.
Blears was also expected to acknowledge that the government is unaware of how many immigrants are living in the UK.
Current figures are based on historic censuses taken before recent arrivals from the European Union and beyond.
Blears will call for improvements in data through the use of commercial information and other methods, such as GP registrations.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd