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Net migration increased in Coalition?s first year
Net migration increased in Coalition?s first year
| Published: | 24 Feb at 3 PM |
Net migration went up in the Coalition’s first year in office despite its pledge to significantly reduce the figure, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Official figures reveal that the amount of people coming to the UK to live for a year or more, minus those who moved overseas, was at 250,000 for the year ending June 2011. The represents an increase on the 235,000 people for the year ending June 2010, just after the current government came to power.
Less people are emigrating while higher numbers continue to settle in Britain, particularly students from Commonwealth nations on the Indian subcontinent and in Africa. There was an 11 per cent increase in the amount of National Insurance numbers handed to foreign-born workers. This is likely to raise concerns that immigration is having an impact on unemployment figures.
Meanwhile, the amount of asylum seekers arriving from troubled countries such as Iran and Libya also went up by 11 per cent, while the number of individuals being deported dropped sharply. It also provides further evidence that ministers will find it difficult to fulfill their vow to reduce net migration by 2015 to “tens of thousands”.
Immigration Minister Damian Green insisted that the Coalition’s reforms are beginning to take effect. He said that figures from the Home Office for the second half of 2011 show a considerable decrease in the amount of work and student visas issued, an early indicator for net migration’s long-term direction.
Official figures reveal that the amount of people coming to the UK to live for a year or more, minus those who moved overseas, was at 250,000 for the year ending June 2011. The represents an increase on the 235,000 people for the year ending June 2010, just after the current government came to power.
Less people are emigrating while higher numbers continue to settle in Britain, particularly students from Commonwealth nations on the Indian subcontinent and in Africa. There was an 11 per cent increase in the amount of National Insurance numbers handed to foreign-born workers. This is likely to raise concerns that immigration is having an impact on unemployment figures.
Meanwhile, the amount of asylum seekers arriving from troubled countries such as Iran and Libya also went up by 11 per cent, while the number of individuals being deported dropped sharply. It also provides further evidence that ministers will find it difficult to fulfill their vow to reduce net migration by 2015 to “tens of thousands”.
Immigration Minister Damian Green insisted that the Coalition’s reforms are beginning to take effect. He said that figures from the Home Office for the second half of 2011 show a considerable decrease in the amount of work and student visas issued, an early indicator for net migration’s long-term direction.
