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Net migration levels 'underestimated', campaigners say Net migration 'could be underestimated', campaigners say
(about 5 hours later)
Campaigners for lower levels of immigration to the UK have warned that officials could be underestimating the scale of net migration.Campaigners for lower levels of immigration to the UK have warned that officials could be underestimating the scale of net migration.
Migration Watch said the Office for National Statistics may have miscalculated the difference between the number of people coming to and leaving the country.Migration Watch said the Office for National Statistics may have miscalculated the difference between the number of people coming to and leaving the country.
The ONS says it is "confident" its figures are accurate.The ONS says it is "confident" its figures are accurate.
Ministers vowed net migration would fall to under 100,000 per year by 2015.Ministers vowed net migration would fall to under 100,000 per year by 2015.
ONS officials have previously admitted they undercounted the number of people coming to the UK from countries such as Poland when the European Union expanded east in 2004.ONS officials have previously admitted they undercounted the number of people coming to the UK from countries such as Poland when the European Union expanded east in 2004.
'Simply not true''Simply not true'
As Britain prepares to lift labour market restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians next year, Sir Andrew Green - chairman of Migration Watch - says the same mistake could still be being made.As Britain prepares to lift labour market restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians next year, Sir Andrew Green - chairman of Migration Watch - says the same mistake could still be being made.
He has written to the UK Statistics Authority calling for a revision of previous immigration estimates after it was revealed in December that between 2001 and 2011, the population of England and Wales grew by 464,000 more than initially claimed.He has written to the UK Statistics Authority calling for a revision of previous immigration estimates after it was revealed in December that between 2001 and 2011, the population of England and Wales grew by 464,000 more than initially claimed.
"There is no point in burying bad news in obscure documents," Sir Andrew said. "That simply destroys trust."There is no point in burying bad news in obscure documents," Sir Andrew said. "That simply destroys trust.
"It is hard to think of set of statistics that is more important to the public.""It is hard to think of set of statistics that is more important to the public."
But Paul Vickers, head of population outputs at ONS, said: "It is simply not true to suggest that ONS has 'refused' to revise migration estimates."But Paul Vickers, head of population outputs at ONS, said: "It is simply not true to suggest that ONS has 'refused' to revise migration estimates."
He added improvements had been made to the ONS's data.He added improvements had been made to the ONS's data.
The government has so far refused to put a figure on the number of Romanians and Bulgarians who could come to the UK when restrictions are lifted in January.The government has so far refused to put a figure on the number of Romanians and Bulgarians who could come to the UK when restrictions are lifted in January.
Campaigners have said as many as 250,000 people could arrive for work in the next five years.Campaigners have said as many as 250,000 people could arrive for work in the next five years.
The coalition government has said it wants to reduce annual net migration from the hundreds to the tens of thousands by the general election in 2015.The coalition government has said it wants to reduce annual net migration from the hundreds to the tens of thousands by the general election in 2015.