UK net migration hits record high

[pampango]

Source: UK Guardian

Net migration to Britain rose to a record 252,000 in 2010, despite the government's target to bring it down to "tens of thousands", according to the latest annual figures.

The Office for National Statistics figures give a crumb of comfort for ministers in that they show a slight fall in the first three months of 2011, with net migration dipping to 243,000. But the drop will have to accelerate if ministers are to hit their target of bringing net migration down below 100,000 by the next election.

Migration is the flow of people coming to live in Britain for more than 12 months. It remained steady in 2010 at 591,000. Net migration is this figure minus the number of people emigrating to live abroad for more than 12 months, which was at a low of 339,000 last year.

The figures show that the largest component of immigration is people arriving to study in Britain, which stood at a record high of 238,000. The ONS said fewer people were emigrating for work-related reasons, with only 174,000 leaving to work abroad last year – the lowest figure for five years.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/24/uk-net-migration-record-high

[alp227]

1. UK net migration hits record high

Source: Guardian

The government's attempts to reduce net migration to Britain to "tens of thousands" have suffered a fresh blow, with official data showing that the figure reached 252,000 last year, the highest calendar-year total on record.

The Office for National Statistics said the rise in net migration was driven by further falls in the level of emigration, with the number of British people going to live abroad now at its lowest level since 1998.

Immigration remained steady in the 12 months to March 2011, with 591,000 arrivals. A fall in the number of people coming to Britain to work was matched by a rise in the number of overseas students, particularly from China.

Home Office figures also published on Thursday show that the number of people turned away at British ports and airports this summer was 13% down on the same period in 2010, despite the pilot scheme that focused on passport checks for "high-risk" passengers and routes.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/24/uk-net-migration-record-high

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