But that figure is set to fall much further after Britain leaves the European Union following yesterday’s Cabinet agreement on tough restrictions on the number of EU nationals being allowed into Britain.
Ministers backed a system which would end the EU-promoted system of free movement and subject EU migrants to the same rules as those from anywhere else in the world.
Prime Minster Theresa May and Home Secretary Sajid Javid had been championing the tighter controls.
If a deal is agreed with the EU the new rules would be enforced by 2020 – but some experts believe the plan could be used as a bargaining chip in larger negotiations with the EU and thus subject to change and even scrapping.
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It is understood that pro-Remain Chancellor Philip Hammond was fiercely against the proposals.
One source even called him “typically tin-eared”.
The new system is based on a plan published by the independent Migration Advisory Committee last week.
Committee chairman Professor Alan Manning advised ministers to prioritise highly-skilled migrants over the low-skilled and make access to Britain easier for them.