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-43154308

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UK net migration falls to 244,000 UK net migration falls to 244,000
(35 minutes later)
Net migration to the UK is estimated to have fallen by 29,000 to 244,000 in the year to last September, figures show.Net migration to the UK is estimated to have fallen by 29,000 to 244,000 in the year to last September, figures show.
It is the second set of data from the Office for National Statistics since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016.It is the second set of data from the Office for National Statistics since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016.
The figure is still well short of the government's target to reduce net migration to below 100,000.The figure is still well short of the government's target to reduce net migration to below 100,000.
Net migration is the difference between people coming to the UK for more than a year, and the number of people leaving the UK for a year or more.Net migration is the difference between people coming to the UK for more than a year, and the number of people leaving the UK for a year or more.
The figures showed that estimated net migration to the UK from the EU alone was 90,000 in the year to September 2017. In the 12 months to September, 578,000 people arrived in the UK from all over the world, and 334,000 emigrated, the report showed.
This is the first time it has fallen below 100,000 since the 12 months ending March 2013. The estimated net migration to the UK from the EU alone was 90,000 in the same period.
Nicola White, head of international migration statistics, said: "Brexit could well be a factor in people's decision to move to or from the UK, but people's decision to migrate is complicated and can be influenced by lots of different reasons." During that time, 220,000 EU citizens came to the UK - 47,000 fewer than the previous year.
Among them, fewer were coming for "work-related reasons", in particular to "look for work".
Meanwhile, 130,000 EU citizens left the UK, the highest number since 2008.
It is the first time EU net migration has fallen below 100,000 since the 12 months ending March 2013.
'Brexit a factor'
The figures show that the UK population is continuing to grow at a similar level to early 2014, Nicola White, head of international migration statistics, said.
"Looking at the underlying numbers we can see that EU net migration has fallen as fewer EU citizens are arriving, especially those coming to look for work in the UK, and the number leaving has risen," she said.
"Brexit could well be a factor in people's decision to move to or from the UK, but people's decision to migrate is complicated and can be influenced by lots of different reasons," she added.
The figures also showed:
The Conservatives' aim since 2010 has been to reduce net migration to the "tens of thousands".
The pledge has appeared in the 2010, 2015 and 2017 Tory manifestos.
Neither Prime Minister Theresa May nor her predecessor, David Cameron, have come close to meeting that target.