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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| UK population 'to hit 65m total' | UK population 'to hit 65m total' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The population of the UK is set to increase by 4.4 million to 65 million by 2016, according to new projections. | The population of the UK is set to increase by 4.4 million to 65 million by 2016, according to new projections. |
| The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 2.3 million of the rise would be a natural increase and 2.1 million down to migration. | The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 2.3 million of the rise would be a natural increase and 2.1 million down to migration. |
| Further projections say the population would reach 71 million by 2031 and 77 million in 2051. | |
| Forecasts of fertility, life expectancy and inward migration have all increased since they were last made in 2004. | Forecasts of fertility, life expectancy and inward migration have all increased since they were last made in 2004. |
| Average age | Average age |
| Estimates of the amount of migration inflow have been upped to a net 190,000 a year from 145,000 a year. | Estimates of the amount of migration inflow have been upped to a net 190,000 a year from 145,000 a year. |
| Total population rises by 2016 are put at 8% for England, 7% for Northern Ireland and 5% for Wales. | Total population rises by 2016 are put at 8% for England, 7% for Northern Ireland and 5% for Wales. |
| It underlines the need for swift and sweeping changes to the immigration system Liam ByrneImmigration Minister | It underlines the need for swift and sweeping changes to the immigration system Liam ByrneImmigration Minister |
| The figure is 3% for Scotland, where fertility and life expectancy are projected to remain lower than the rest of the UK. | |
| The average age of Britons is expected to rise from 39.6 years in 2006 to 40.6 years in 2016 and to 42.6 years by 2031. | |
| Those aged 75 and over are projected to increase from 4.7 million in 2006 to 5.5 million by 2016 and 8.2 million by 2031. | |
| The number of people of working age is put at 38.6 million in 2010, 41.5 million by 2020 and 43.4 million by 2031, from 37.7 million in 2006. | The number of people of working age is put at 38.6 million in 2010, 41.5 million by 2020 and 43.4 million by 2031, from 37.7 million in 2006. |
| Points system | Points system |
| Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said the projections showed it was necessary to "take action" on inward migration. | Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said the projections showed it was necessary to "take action" on inward migration. |
| He said: "Frankly, it underlines the need for swift and sweeping changes to the immigration system in the next 12 months, which will include the introduction of an Australian-style points based system, so only those that Britain needs can come to work and study." | He said: "Frankly, it underlines the need for swift and sweeping changes to the immigration system in the next 12 months, which will include the introduction of an Australian-style points based system, so only those that Britain needs can come to work and study." |
| Mr Byrne added: "I think it shows we are right to set the point score for new migrants by considering not only the good of the economy but the realities of immigration's wider impact." | Mr Byrne added: "I think it shows we are right to set the point score for new migrants by considering not only the good of the economy but the realities of immigration's wider impact." |
| Conservative spokesman Damian Green said it was "ever more urgent" for the government to control immigration. | Conservative spokesman Damian Green said it was "ever more urgent" for the government to control immigration. |
| He called for a "gradual and sensible growth of population rather than this headlong growth in population which is bound to put extra strain on public services such as provision of housing and education". | He called for a "gradual and sensible growth of population rather than this headlong growth in population which is bound to put extra strain on public services such as provision of housing and education". |
| 'Huge impact' | |
| Sir Andrew Green, chairman of pressure group Migrationwatch, said "Population growing at this speed is just incredible - twice the population of London by the mid-century | |
| "Huge impact on our infrastructure, on our public services, and indeed on the whole nature of our society, and all of it taking place without the public ever being consulted." | |
| A spokeswoman for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said: "We need figures, not just the growth of population but where it is growing and how, and the impact on services and the economy. | |
| "Just calling for a cap on immigration will not respond adequately to complex changes in the existing population such as the growth of single-person households and the migration of the existing population within the UK." | |
| Jonathon Porritt, patron of the Optimum Population Trust think-tank, called for an "intelligent debate" on growing numbers of people in the UK. | |
| He said: "If it quickly defaults into pro or anti-immigration - which is an extremely unhelpful place for the debate to go - it means we constantly avoid the discussion about human numbers. | |
| "We miss the subtle debate about the impact of population on an already congested island." | |
| BBC News economics editor Evan Davis said if the UK tried to shoehorn the population into existing roads, hospitals and schools it could lead to tensions and feelings of crowdedness. | |
| He said he saw the figures as a wake-up call to think about how the process of absorbing population growth is managed. |