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| Net migration to UK falls for first time in almost two years | Net migration to UK falls for first time in almost two years |
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| Annual net migration to Britain dipped to 323,000 in September 2015 – 13,000 lower than the record level of 336,000 recorded last June, the Office for National Statistics has said. | Annual net migration to Britain dipped to 323,000 in September 2015 – 13,000 lower than the record level of 336,000 recorded last June, the Office for National Statistics has said. |
| The small fall in net migration provides evidence that the flow of European Union migrants to work in Britain has now peaked and appears to be stabilising. The decline follows seven successive quarters - 21 months - of rises in the politically sensitive net migration figure. | The small fall in net migration provides evidence that the flow of European Union migrants to work in Britain has now peaked and appears to be stabilising. The decline follows seven successive quarters - 21 months - of rises in the politically sensitive net migration figure. |
| The home secretary Theresa May responded to the new set of figures saying: “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.” | The home secretary Theresa May responded to the new set of figures saying: “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 EU deal struck by David 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”. Nevertheless the 323,000 net migration figure remains more than three times above David Cameron’s pledge to reduce it to 100,000 by the time of the 2020 general election. | But she said the EU deal struck by David 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”. Nevertheless the 323,000 net migration figure remains more than three times above David Cameron’s pledge to reduce it to 100,000 by the time of the 2020 general election. |
| The raw figures show that a fall in the number of people going to live abroad – down 29,000 to 294,000 – rather than changes in immigration – up by 2,000 to 617,000 - has driven an annual increase of 31,000 in the net migration figure compared with 12 months before in September 2014. | |
| The net migration figure of 323,000 to the UK is split between a 172,000 net increase in migrants from within Europe and 191,000 from outside Europe. | The net migration figure of 323,000 to the UK is split between a 172,000 net increase in migrants from within Europe and 191,000 from outside Europe. |
| The detailed figures show that 165,000 EU nationals came to Britain to work in the 12 months to September – a fall of 15,000 from the 180,000 estimated in the year to June. They also show that 59% of all migrants coming to Britain to work have a definite job to go to. | The detailed figures show that 165,000 EU nationals came to Britain to work in the 12 months to September – a fall of 15,000 from the 180,000 estimated in the year to June. They also show that 59% of all migrants coming to Britain to work have a definite job to go to. |
| This is the first fall in the flow of EU migrants coming to Britain to work and confirms evidence from the Labour market survey that the number of EU citizens working in Britain has stabilised over the past nine months. | This is the first fall in the flow of EU migrants coming to Britain to work and confirms evidence from the Labour market survey that the number of EU citizens working in Britain has stabilised over the past nine months. |
| The figures show that within the flow of EU migration to Britain, Romanians and Bulgarians accounted for the largest increase, with their numbers up 15,000 to 55,000 in the year to September. | The figures show that within the flow of EU migration to Britain, Romanians and Bulgarians accounted for the largest increase, with their numbers up 15,000 to 55,000 in the year to September. |
| The government’s squeeze on overseas students has led to numbers falling – down from 190,000 to 174,000 over the past year. | The government’s squeeze on overseas students has led to numbers falling – down from 190,000 to 174,000 over the past year. |
| Asylum applications in Britain have risen by 20% over the past year to 38,878. This is the fifth successive year that the asylum figures have risen against the backdrop of the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war. The ONS said that the figure still remained low compared with the 2002 peak of 103,081. | Asylum applications in Britain have risen by 20% over the past year to 38,878. This is the fifth successive year that the asylum figures have risen against the backdrop of the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war. The ONS said that the figure still remained low compared with the 2002 peak of 103,081. |
| The largest number of applications for asylum came from nationals of Eritrea (3,729), followed by Iran (3,248), Sudan (2,918) and Syria (2,609). A further 1,864 people were resettled in the UK in 2015. Of these, 1,194 were granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme. | The largest number of applications for asylum came from nationals of Eritrea (3,729), followed by Iran (3,248), Sudan (2,918) and Syria (2,609). A further 1,864 people were resettled in the UK in 2015. Of these, 1,194 were granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme. |
| Britain had the ninth highest number of asylum applications in Europe in 2015 with the 38,878 compared with 431,000 in Germany, 163,000 in Sweden and 163,000 in Hungary. | Britain had the ninth highest number of asylum applications in Europe in 2015 with the 38,878 compared with 431,000 in Germany, 163,000 in Sweden and 163,000 in Hungary. |
| Madeleine Sumption of the Oxford University-based Migration Observatory said that 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. | Madeleine Sumption of the Oxford University-based Migration Observatory said that 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. |
| “In the short term, the UK remains an attractive destination with low unemployment and robust job growth so there’s no reason to expect a dramatic change to migration levels. In the long run, migration is much harder to predict. It will depend on many different factors from future policy changes to economic growth in other countries,” she said. | “In the short term, the UK remains an attractive destination with low unemployment and robust job growth so there’s no reason to expect a dramatic change to migration levels. In the long run, migration is much harder to predict. It will depend on many different factors from future policy changes to economic growth in other countries,” she said. |
| Marley Morris of the Institute of Public Policy Research added: “It is crucial for this referendum that both sides are honest about EU migration. It is doubtful that the ‘emergency brake’ will significantly reduce EU migration, which is likely to continue to be high if the UK remains in the EU,” he said. | Marley Morris of the Institute of Public Policy Research added: “It is crucial for this referendum that both sides are honest about EU migration. It is doubtful that the ‘emergency brake’ will significantly reduce EU migration, which is likely to continue to be high if the UK remains in the EU,” he said. |
| “Likewise, it is unclear how EU migration policy would work if the UK left the EU: if the UK discarded free movement rules then it would have more control over EU migration but, without drastic action, would most likely not come close to meeting the government’s target.” | “Likewise, it is unclear how EU migration policy would work if the UK left the EU: if the UK discarded free movement rules then it would have more control over EU migration but, without drastic action, would most likely not come close to meeting the government’s target.” |
| The Institute of Directors said it was time to ditch the net migration target: “These figures show, yet again, why a net migration target makes absolutely no sense. The fact that 94% of the year-on-year increase in net migration is accounted for not by an increase in people coming here, but by a fall in the numbers leaving, shows the futility of trying to measure ‘net’ migration. | The Institute of Directors said it was time to ditch the net migration target: “These figures show, yet again, why a net migration target makes absolutely no sense. The fact that 94% of the year-on-year increase in net migration is accounted for not by an increase in people coming here, but by a fall in the numbers leaving, shows the futility of trying to measure ‘net’ migration. |
| “It means the government’s attempts to hit its arbitrary target are reliant not just on reducing the numbers arriving here but on increasing the number of people leaving this country as well.” | “It means the government’s attempts to hit its arbitrary target are reliant not just on reducing the numbers arriving here but on increasing the number of people leaving this country as well.” |