Actually, a number of investment experts are suggesting that Europe and Japanese economies are due for out performance this year and next, as both are now in the early stages of quantative easing, or stimulating the economy, a tactic already employed in the US and UK.

The immigration policy under both recent governments in the UK would have to be considered flawed by your measure Helmet, as both have presided over increased numbers. In Labour's defence, at least they never promised to reduce immigration and failed, unlike Cameron.

However, the idea that immigration to ageing nations is negative doesn't bare scrutiny. Countries such as ourselves, Italy, Germany and especially Japan need taxpayers to support increasing numbers of pensioners, and the birth rate isn't supplying them.

Japan, a far more insular country historically than the UK, is currently looking at ways of bringing in workers to settle, work and pay taxes to support their ageing population. We already have a supply of taxpayers from abroad who contribute far more than they take out; what's the problem with that?

The latest data shows that Japan's economy has contracted for the two quarters in a row and that's recession country.

Not sure it does.Rather,I think the statistics weaken that argument.According to the figures published today, net more non EU immigrants came here in the 12 month period than EU immigrants and their numbers increased at a higher rate than net EU immigrants.

Asylum seekers (though much spotlighted in parts of the press) have accounted for perhaps 20,000-30,000 people applying for (not necessarily being granted) asylum each year 2008-12,so factually a minority part of non EU immigration.

So, whatever one's thoughts of the reasons for/merits/lack of merits about immigration,it would seem that the majority of the numbers concern wholly UK government set policies rather than the EU or UN.

And from the non EU figures,it would also be relevant to strap out overseas students (hghly beneficial to the UK economy short and long term and crucial to keeping our universities afloat nowadays) and those working for "international" companies where significant numbers of Brits go to work abroad in similar circumstances as well.

So,the average immigrant in the 12 month period may not be "Johnny new EU nation foreigner"

The number of Romanians/Bulgarians who arrived were I think c.36,000,a much lower figure than the shock horror numbers confidently predicted beforehand in parts of the press.As the Daily Express put it in a headline in October 2012:"Now 29m Bulgarians and Romanians can soon move to Britain"

My post referred to this year and next, not historically. The recovery has started. However, not that many Japanese people settle in the UK, and those that do are unlikely to be homeless. This is also true of Europe, where the recovery is now underway.

There have been a number of homeless people arriving from Europe, mainly from poorer countries. Some were living rough in Park Lane, of all places, before they were moved on. But these numbers are relatively small compared to the homeless from other parts of the UK that live on the streets of London.

Who cares about homeless people?

You'll be moaning about women and the disabled next.