More than 11,000 work permits were issued to the private sector in 2009 and more than 13,000 the year before.

Senator David Burch gave the information in response to parliamentary questions by senators Michael Dunkley, Jeanne Atherden and Suzann Roberts-Holshouser.

Sen. Dunkley asked how many work permits were given to private sector employees not married to Bermudians in 2008 and 2009.

Sen. Burch said the number was 13,316 in 2008 and 11,104 in 2009, inclusive of temporary work permits.

He said that some of the temporary permits were replaced by work permits of one to five years.

Sen. Dunkley also asked how many permits were issued at the end of May to private sector employees.

Sen. Burch said: "The figures are calculated on a quarterly basis, therefore the figures for April and May 2010 are not yet available.

"The total number of work permits issued in the first quarter to March 2010 to private sector employees not married to Bermudians is 3,249."

He added that number is inclusive of temporary work permits.

Sen. Jeanne Atherden asked how many work permits were issued in total in 2008 and 2009 to private sector employees. She asked for the numbers to be broken down by sector.

Sen. Burch said: "At present, the Department of Immigration is still using the old legacy system to produce most of the work permits currently being issued and the information requested by the industrial sector is not captured by the current system.

"The total number of work permits for all categories in 2008 is 14,216. Systems currently under implementation will be able to more easily report the data requested."

The total number of permits issued in 2009 was 11,893, he added.

Sen. Roberts-Holshouser asked for the total number of permits issued in between 2008 and May 2010 to public sector and QUANGO employees not married to Bermudians.

Sen. Burch said the numbers were 900 for 2008 and 789 for 2009.

As for 2010, Sen. Burch said: "The figures are calculated on a quarterly basis, therefore the total figures for April and May 2010 are not yet available.

"The total number of work permits issued in the first quarter, to March 2010, to public sector and QUANGO employees not married to Bermudians is 154."

He said the figures are inclusive of temporary work permits, some of which would have been replaced by one to five year permits.