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Annual UK net migration down slightly at 323,000 Net migration at 323,000 prompts EU referendum row
(35 minutes later)
Estimated net migration to the UK was 323,000 in the year to September 2015, figures published by the Office for National Statistics show. New figures showing net migration to the UK remains near record levels has sparked a row between the two sides in the EU referendum debate.
That represents an increase of 31,000 on the same period in 2013/14 - but is down slightly on the record figure of 336,000 for the year to June 2015. The difference between the number of people leaving and arriving was 323,000 in the year to September.
The figures show 165,000 EU citizens came to the UK for work reasons. Home Secretary Theresa May says it is too high but says benefit curbs David Cameron negotiated will reduce it.
Net migration is the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving. UKIP leader Nigel Farage says the only way to get immigration under control is to leave the EU in June's referendum.
Prime Minister David Cameron remains committed to getting net migration below 100,000 by the next election in 2020. The government remains committed to getting net migration below 100,000 by the next election in 2020.
Immigration is set to be a major issue in the UK's referendum on whether to remain in the EU. The key points from the latest migration statistics include:
Migration crisis Theresa May, who is backing the campaign to remain in the EU, said: "Immigration at this level puts pressure on public services, on housing, on infrastructure… it can hold down wages and push British workers out of jobs."
Mr Cameron has secured changes to benefit entitlements he says will reduce the factors attracting EU citizens to work in the UK, but his opponents say they will make no difference. But she said the EU deal struck last week by Mr Cameron, restricting access to in-work benefits for new arrivals, would "clamp down on abuse of free movement" and "reduce the pull factor of our welfare system and make it easier for us to deport people who are abusing our generosity".
Home Secretary Theresa May, who is backing the campaign to remain in the EU, said: "Net migration in the UK still remains too high. Immigration at this level puts pressure on public services, on housing, on infrastructure… it can hold down wages and push British workers out of jobs."
But she said the deal struck by Mr Cameron would "clamp down on abuse of free movement" and "reduce the pull factor of our welfare system and make it easier for us to deport people who are abusing our generosity".
Mrs May is in Brussels for crisis talks on limiting migration. Asked if the EU's response so far had been a mess, she said: "The EU is indeed dealing with a migration crisis and that would be the same whether the UK was in the EU or outside the EU.Mrs May is in Brussels for crisis talks on limiting migration. Asked if the EU's response so far had been a mess, she said: "The EU is indeed dealing with a migration crisis and that would be the same whether the UK was in the EU or outside the EU.
"As members of the EU we are able to work with others to strengthen the external borders.""As members of the EU we are able to work with others to strengthen the external borders."
But UKIP Leader Nigel Farage: "As I've said for years, we cannot control immigration into Britain while we remain inside the EU. The government pledge to reduce net migration to tens of thousands continues to be laughable. But Nigel Farage, who is campaigning for Britain to leave the EU, said: "As I've said for years, we cannot control immigration into Britain while we remain inside the EU. The government pledge to reduce net migration to tens of thousands continues to be laughable.
"I am pleased that there are now lots of voices agreeing with me, that we must leave the European Union to control our borders.""I am pleased that there are now lots of voices agreeing with me, that we must leave the European Union to control our borders."
Latest employment statistics from the Labour Force Survey show estimated employment of EU nationals - excluding British citizens - living in the UK was 2 million in October to December 2015, 215,000 higher than the same quarter last year.
'New normal''New normal'
Non-EU foreign nationals in employment increased by 38,000 to 1.2 million over the same year and the total number of British nationals in employment increased by 278,000 to 28.3 million.
Therefore, nearly half of the growth in employment over the last year was accounted for by foreign nationals.
Of the 165,000 EU citizens who came to the UK for work-related reasons 96,000, or 58%, had a definite job to go to and 69,000, or 42%, came looking for work, the latest ONS figures show.
The figures show 45,000 Bulgarians and Romanians came to the UK for work reasons, an increase of 17,000 on the year to September 2014. About two thirds of them had a definite job to go to.
Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said: "Free movement within the EU is not the only driver of recent high levels of net migration, but it has played an important role.Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said: "Free movement within the EU is not the only driver of recent high levels of net migration, but it has played an important role.
"While EU migration is a defining issue in the referendum debate, the truth is that it's difficult to predict EU migration levels with confidence in either the stay or leave scenario."While EU migration is a defining issue in the referendum debate, the truth is that it's difficult to predict EU migration levels with confidence in either the stay or leave scenario.
"Whether Brexit would reduce migration will depend in part on the treaties and policies that followed, and these cannot be known in advance.""Whether Brexit would reduce migration will depend in part on the treaties and policies that followed, and these cannot be known in advance."
She said the sustained high levels of net migration raised the question "of whether we are experiencing a temporary peak or a 'new normal' in the UK".She said the sustained high levels of net migration raised the question "of whether we are experiencing a temporary peak or a 'new normal' in the UK".