28 May 2013
Waveney MP Peter Aldous today welcomed new migration statistics published this week which show that migration to the UK is now at its lowest level for a decade.
The latest migration statistics were published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Key facts:
While continuing to bring net migration down, the Government is supporting economic growth by welcoming the brightest and best to the UK:
The Government has announced there will be an Immigration Bill in this parliamentary session. This Bill will stop migrants abusing public services to which they are not entitled, reduce the pull factors which draw illegal immigrants to the UK, and make it easier to remove people who should not be here.
Mr Aldous said:
“I know from the correspondence I receive that immigration is of concern to many people in Waveney. These new figures show real progress is being made, though there is still much work to do and the Immigration Bill that is to be introduced by the Government shortly will include measures that will improve the position further.”
The latest migration statistics were published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Key facts:
- Net migration was 153,000 for the year ending September 2012 – down from 242,000 in September 2011, and a fall of 89,000
- The ONS highlighted that while changes in net migration over the period 2008–10 were mainly driven by changes in people leaving the country, ‘since 2011, declining immigration has been the main cause of changes in net migration.’
- Of total immigration, 55 per cent was from nationals outside the European Economic Area (EEA), 30 per cent was from EEA nationals and 15 per cent was returning British citizens.
While continuing to bring net migration down, the Government is supporting economic growth by welcoming the brightest and best to the UK:
- There was a 5 per cent increase in work visas issued for skilled individuals under Tier 2 in the year to March.
- There was a 5 per cent increase in sponsored student visa applications for the university sector – demonstrating that our reforms have deliberately favoured universities and that we continue to have a great offer for international students. There is no limit on student numbers; universities can apply their own language tests; and graduates can stay and work if they get a graduate job.
- There was an overall increase of 6 per cent in the total number of visas issued to Chinese nationals in the year to March 2013, including a 10 per cent increase in study visas issued to Chinese nationals.
The Government has announced there will be an Immigration Bill in this parliamentary session. This Bill will stop migrants abusing public services to which they are not entitled, reduce the pull factors which draw illegal immigrants to the UK, and make it easier to remove people who should not be here.
Mr Aldous said:
“I know from the correspondence I receive that immigration is of concern to many people in Waveney. These new figures show real progress is being made, though there is still much work to do and the Immigration Bill that is to be introduced by the Government shortly will include measures that will improve the position further.”
