b'to those of our trading rivals. Why shouldThe UK Government has stopped trying to employers invest in labour-saving equipment,curtail mass immigration to the UK to the or reorder their production methods, in thesetens of thousands because it holds the circumstances?flawed and mistaken belief that size of GDP is an accurate economic indicator that Regrettably, the distinction between size ofproduces economic benefit. It is not. The GDP and GDP per capita is seldomtables suggest that uncontrolled immigration recognised as is the fact that GDP per capitahas impacted on GDP per capita. is the superior measure. This, is lost on the UK Treasury.There is also a further consequence. A member states contribution(s) to the EU In the 12 months to June 2016, net migrationis calculated on several bases. The most to the UK hit a record high of 336,000,important of which is (a version of) size of exceeding the predictions of the ONSwithGDP. The Treasurys agenda - to increase net migration of EU citizens increasing bygross UK GDP via mass immigration has had 42,000 to 182,000 in that period. Since thethe effect of bringing about a materially larger Brexit referendum, net migration hasUK contribution to the EU. decreased fairly significantly, though in 2017 some 274,000 more people immigrated thanAn increased UK GDP - even though GDP emigrated.19 per head may reduce - also has the effect of increased expenditure on Foreign Aid. This is In examining these claims, former Homebecause, in accordance with a law passed in Office adviser Nick Timothy has written: the 2010-15 Westminster parliamentary term, There is a new reason why the Treasury isthe UKs Foreign Aid has to be 0.7% of GDP. keener than ever on mass immigration. It(This compares with the USAs 0.2% or less).might not bring any significant economic benefits for existing British citizens, but it does mean a bigger population, and a bigger population means a bigger economy overall, which means that the effect of spending cuts increases when the deficit is measured as a percentage of GDP.126'