Britain's migrant population contributes relatively more to the public purse than everybody else, according to a study published today by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank.

The calculations, using Treasury data and the Labour Force Survey, found that although the migrant workforce makes up 8.7 per cent of the population, it contributes 10.2 per cent of all the income tax collected.

Meanwhile, home secretary Charles Clarke told the BBC last night that highly skilled failed asylum seekers could be allowed to stay and work.