This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41036236
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Big net migration fall since Brexit vote, latest estimates show | Big net migration fall since Brexit vote, latest estimates show |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Net migration has fallen to the lowest level for three years after a surge in the number of EU nationals leaving the UK since last June's Brexit vote. | Net migration has fallen to the lowest level for three years after a surge in the number of EU nationals leaving the UK since last June's Brexit vote. |
| Net migration - the difference between those entering and leaving the UK - fell 81,000 to 246,000 in the year to March 2017. | Net migration - the difference between those entering and leaving the UK - fell 81,000 to 246,000 in the year to March 2017. |
| More than half that change is due to a decrease in net migration of EU citizens, which is down 51,000. | More than half that change is due to a decrease in net migration of EU citizens, which is down 51,000. |
| The government is committed to reducing net migration to below 100,000. | The government is committed to reducing net migration to below 100,000. |
| Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis welcomed the new figures, saying: "It was good to see a third quarter running of net migration figures coming down". | |
| But business groups raised concerns about the fall, with the CBI saying: "The loss of these vital skills should concern us all." | But business groups raised concerns about the fall, with the CBI saying: "The loss of these vital skills should concern us all." |
| The ONS figures show a particularly sharp rise, of 17,000, in departures of citizens from the so-called EU8 countries - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. | The ONS figures show a particularly sharp rise, of 17,000, in departures of citizens from the so-called EU8 countries - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. |
| An ONS spokesman said: "These results indicate that the EU referendum result may be influencing people's decision to migrate into and out of the UK, particularly EU and EU8 citizens. | An ONS spokesman said: "These results indicate that the EU referendum result may be influencing people's decision to migrate into and out of the UK, particularly EU and EU8 citizens. |
| "It is too early to tell if this is an indication of a long-term trend." | "It is too early to tell if this is an indication of a long-term trend." |
| The ONS figures show that immigration from all countries has fallen - and emigration has also risen. | The ONS figures show that immigration from all countries has fallen - and emigration has also risen. |
| Exit checks | Exit checks |
| International migration for work remains the most likely reason to move, said the ONS, but it added that people are now more likely to move if they have a definite job, rather than to just look for work. | International migration for work remains the most likely reason to move, said the ONS, but it added that people are now more likely to move if they have a definite job, rather than to just look for work. |
| A spokesman for the Institute of Directors said "no one should celebrate these numbers". | A spokesman for the Institute of Directors said "no one should celebrate these numbers". |
| "Given unemployment is currently at its lowest level ever (4.5%), without the three million EU citizens living here the UK would have an acute labour shortage. | "Given unemployment is currently at its lowest level ever (4.5%), without the three million EU citizens living here the UK would have an acute labour shortage. |
| "Signs that it is becoming a less attractive place to live and work are a concern," he added. | "Signs that it is becoming a less attractive place to live and work are a concern," he added. |
| Matthew Percival, head of employment at the CBI, said EU nationals made a "crucial contribution" to the economy. | Matthew Percival, head of employment at the CBI, said EU nationals made a "crucial contribution" to the economy. |
| "This latest data reflects a trend many businesses have seen - an increase in the number of EU citizens leaving the country," he said. | "This latest data reflects a trend many businesses have seen - an increase in the number of EU citizens leaving the country," he said. |
| "The loss of these vital skills should concern us all, underlining the importance of urgently providing certainty for millions of workers and their families." | "The loss of these vital skills should concern us all, underlining the importance of urgently providing certainty for millions of workers and their families." |
| The government has also published the first ever "exit checks" data - a proper count of all people who are actually known to have left the UK. | The government has also published the first ever "exit checks" data - a proper count of all people who are actually known to have left the UK. |
| For the year to March 2017, the data shows that 97% of students from outside the EU with a visa to enter the UK are known to have complied with the terms of their visa by either departing the UK or remaining in the country by extending their visas. | For the year to March 2017, the data shows that 97% of students from outside the EU with a visa to enter the UK are known to have complied with the terms of their visa by either departing the UK or remaining in the country by extending their visas. |
| It is not clear what had happened to the remaining 3% whose visas had expired. | It is not clear what had happened to the remaining 3% whose visas had expired. |
| The data also shows that 95% of international students either leave at the end of their studies or are given permission to stay on for some other reason. | The data also shows that 95% of international students either leave at the end of their studies or are given permission to stay on for some other reason. |
| This previously unknown figure runs contrary to repeated claims that international students are abusing the immigration system to stay illegally in the UK. | This previously unknown figure runs contrary to repeated claims that international students are abusing the immigration system to stay illegally in the UK. |
| Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said it showed Theresa May's "long-running campaign to malign international students" was "based on fantasy". | Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said it showed Theresa May's "long-running campaign to malign international students" was "based on fantasy". |
| The Lib Dems called the overall drop in net migration a "deeply worrying Brexodus of EU citizens", blaming the government's failure to guarantee their rights to stay in the UK after Brexit. | The Lib Dems called the overall drop in net migration a "deeply worrying Brexodus of EU citizens", blaming the government's failure to guarantee their rights to stay in the UK after Brexit. |
| Are you an EU national living in the UK? Are you considering leaving the UK? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you an EU national living in the UK? Are you considering leaving the UK? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |