This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mmigration-uk-rate-statistics-brexit-immigrants-total-number-jobs-visa-british-law-a7208701.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
UK immigration: net migration still more than triple Government target at 327,000 | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The Government has once again completely overshot its target to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands. | |
Data from the Office for National Statistics confirmed net migration, those coming in to the country compared to those leaving, stood at 327,000 in the year to March. | |
It is actually 9,000 lower than the same time last year, but still broke through the Government’s target of fewer than 100,000. | |
The statistics come as the latest ONS data also revealed there has been the highest ever number of UK births to women who were born outside the country. | |
Both sets of figures will add to fears that Theresa May is planning a major crackdown on immigration, with foreign students and low-skilled workers potentially targeted. | |
Numbers coming in to the UK in the most recent net migration data included 180,000 EU citizens, 190,000 non-EU citizens and 43,000 British citizens. | |
ONS head of international migration statistics Nicola White said: “Net migration remains at record levels although the recent trend is broadly flat. The influx of Romanians and Bulgarians has also reached a new high, although that's offset by falls in non-EU immigration and from other central and eastern European countries.” | |
She explained that work remains the main reason for migration, followed by study which has seen a significant fall in the number of people coming to the UK for education. | |
The figures only go up to the end of March and do not cover the period following the UK's vote to leave the European Union. | |
Ms May has reiterated that she thinks the target of reducing the net migration figure to less than 100,000, first introduced by David Cameron, represents a good level and has reaffirmed a commitment to reducing it in the wake of the Brexit vote. | |
The Prime Minister has ordered officials to draw up a fresh package of immigration controls with the numbers of non-EU work, family and student visas potentially tightened. There is likely to be a particular focus on students, however. As Home Secretary Ms May fought a running battle with George Osborne over the numbers of study visas granted. | |
While UK universities have lobbied hard against changes, the former Chancellor’s departure and Ms May’s arrival in Downing Street means she now has a free hand to take on the issue. |