Twitter Q&A: Danny Shaw answers your questions
Immigrants from the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 contributed more to the UK than they took out in benefits, according to a study by University College London's Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration.
They added £4.96bn more in taxes in the years to 2011 than they took out in public services.
This is an edited version of the session:
Steve emails a question: Every job they take deprives a British worker of a job and can put them on benefits. Is this taken into account?
Danny answers: Not taken into account in this report, but Home Office study suggests a displacement effect when economy in recession.
Question from Craigie Watson in Leith, Edinburgh: What proportion of EU migrants fill low paid jobs?
Danny says: 13 million low-skilled workers in UK, of whom 2 million migrants, split 60-40 non-EEA and EEA, so just under 1 million from EU.
Mark emails a question: Can the country cope with a large influx of new residents in terms of housing, transport and social services?
Danny answers: Key question! If new migrants pay in more than they take out then yes, if it's invested in public services, but if not, No!
@DonnaHebblethwa asks a question: I have been going to hospital for 5 years. Do you think immigration is affecting the NHS?
Danny says: Many migrants work in NHS, but some communities with large migrant population report strains on services.
Julien emails: Other media refer to a £120 bn cost, what does this mean and how are they working it out?
Danny answers: This is UCL estimate of what non-EEA migrants cost the UK between 1995 and 2011.
@Scaley_Sapper asks: How many illegal people have been lost since arriving over here and what is happening to find and deport them?
Danny answers: No overall figure. It's an unknown unknown but Public Accounts Committee says Home Office has lost track of 50,000.
@danieldevereux asks: Why are people so opposed to immigration? More people and ideas can never be a bad thing.
Danny adds: I guess some people fear change, see their local area changing suddenly, others worried about jobs and services.
@ThePatAshworth asks a question: Migration roughly 50/50 EU/non-EU. Should government not concentrate on parts they *can* control?
Danny says: Coalition limited non-EU migration but EU migration can be controlled only if UK quits or gets approval for big restrictions.
Question by @jicci7: Why doesn't the UK have a stringent points system for immigration, such as applied in Australia/NZ/America?
Danny answers: Points system for non-EU introduced in UK by Labour in 2008, but none for EU cost of freedom of movement principle.
Question from @SamiaBadani: Why are we so focused on #EU migration? Now that we know it is positive will the rhetoric change?
Danny adds: People worry about jobs going, communities changing. As long as it's big political issue with UKIP rise, can't see much change.
@clooky asks: Would the @premierleague have to be a five-a-side league if there were no migrant workers?
Danny says: No. It'll be back to scrappy 0-0 draws, break your leg tackles, the long ball and hit and hope!