Immigration figures 'unprecedented'

The number of people who were born abroad and live in England and Wales has increased to 13% of the population - according to census figures published today. That's an increase of three million immigrants who have come largely from India, Poland and Pakistan.

Speaking on The World At One Alp Mehmet, a former British ambassador and vice chairman of Migration Watch said that the figures were "totally unprecedented "and showed "how absolutely essential it is that we bring it under control".

But Danny Dorling, professor of Human Geography at the University of Sheffield, and author of Fair Play, writings on inequality and social justice said that, while the immigration figures were interesting, the big story was the "almost doubling of the number of landlords and the reduction in the number of people who are beginning to be able to buy their own house".