Estimated net migration was 216,000 in the year to December 2011 - lower, but not a statistically significant difference, from 252,000 in 2010
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) yesterday show that estimated net migration to the UK has fallen slightly to 216,000 (down from 252,000) but remains more than double the government's target of fewer than 100,000 a year, BBC News reported.
The ONS's Migration Statistics Quarterly Report for August found:
• Estimated total long-term immigration to the UK in the year to December 2011 was 566,000. This compares to 591,000 in the year to December 2010 and has remained broadly at a similar level since 2004
• Estimated total long-term emigration from the UK in the year to December 2011 was 350,000. This compares to 339,000 in the year to December 2010
• Estimated net migration was 216,000 in the year to December 2011. This is lower, but is not a statistically significant difference, from 252,000 in the year to December 2010
• Study remains the most common reason for migrating to the UK estimated at 232,000 in the year to December 2011. This is similar to 238,000 in the year to December 2010
• In the year to June 2012 there were 282,833 visas issued for the purpose of study (including student visitors), a fall of 21% compared with the previous 12 months
• 601,000 National Insurance numbers (NINos) were allocated to non-UK nationals in the year to March 2012, a decrease of 15 per cent on the year to March 2011
• 147,385 work-related visas were issued in the year to June 2012, a fall of 7 per cent compared to the previous 12 months
• Excluding visitor and transit visas, the number of visas issued fell 16% to 519,730 in the year ending June 2012 (compared with 616,184 in the previous 12 months), to the lowest 12-monthly total recorded using comparable data available from 2005
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