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News Articles for May 2011
May 26, 2011
Immigration Close to Record Levels
May 18, 2011
The Impact of Immigration on Traffic Growth and Congestion in England
May 16, 2011
Thousands of illegal immigrants are granted settlement every year
May 10, 2011
Seven out of Ten Lib Dem Voters Want Net Immigration sharply cut: New poll shows strong support for Cameron’s target
May 9, 2011
Migrationwatch calls for firmer action on sham marriages.
Full Text of Press Release : May 2011
Immigration Close to Record Levels
Non UK born workers increase by 1.7 million in ten years
Today’s new figures
Net migration in the year to last September was the highest for 5 years at 242,000, up 96,000 on the previous year. This is close to the record level of 260,000 set in the year to June 2005.
British emigration was unchanged from last year at 43,000 but was still low compared to pre-recession levels.
Net EU migration increased by 40,000 but still represented only 25% of net foreign immigration. Net non EU migration rose by 54,000 to 215,000.
Reasons for MigrationImmigration for formal study has trebled over the last decade. In the year to September 2010 about 241,000 gave their main reason as study, an increase of 30% from the previous year.
The number who gave their reason as work related was 190,000, 20% below the peak seen in 2008.
Foreign workersThe number of non UK born workers has increased by 1.7 million over the last decade while the number of UK born workers fell by 223,000. The employment rate of UK born workers has fallen by 2% since the first quarter of 2007 while that of non UK born has increased by 1%.
CommentCommenting Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK said, "This sharp rise in immigration comes as a shock. These figures show just what an enormous task the coalition government has inherited as a result of Labour’s mass immigration policy. Firm measures are now absolutely essential. The impact on British born workers is a particular concern that has been brushed under the carpet for too long.”
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The Impact of Immigration on Traffic Growth and Congestion in England
Britain’s transport infrastructure, already one of the most congested in Europe, is set to become even more crowded in the next 25 years as a result of immigration. For the same reason the cost to business and other road users of traffic congestion on England’s roads will be £5 billion higher each year by 2025, says a new report, ‘Migration and Road Transport in England’(Briefing Paper No 1.28) out today from think - tank Migrationwatch.
At its current rate the UK population is projected to increase by around 10 million between 2008 and 2033, with around seven million of that total due to immigration. Out of this number four million will be aged 17 or over by 2033, perhaps adding nearly three million to the driving population of the UK. ‘If the Government fails to substantially reduce immigration levels, England can expect unprecedented traffic congestion as economic growth continues and the population soars to the highest level in its history.’ said Sir Andrew Green, Migrationwatch chairman.
‘Our report once again shows that for most people the abnormally high immigration levels experienced during the Labour years is not just about whether or not immigration adds a fraction of a percentage point to GDP,’ he said. ‘For them it is about the often unsettling and uncomfortable consequences of mass immigration on the everyday quality of their lives. Just one of these is their ability to travel for work and leisure in tolerable conditions.’
Sir Andrew said that continued immigration at the current level was likely to see traffic on England’s roads increase by 28 billion vehicle kms, accounting for over 15 per cent of forecast traffic growth over the next 25 years. The report says that congestion on the UK’s transport networks compares badly with networks elsewhere in Europe, and its road network in particular is regarded as being the most congested in the EU.
Recent estimates of the costs of road traffic congestion in the UK range up to £20 billion a year. By far the worst road traffic congestion is in London, which is projected to receive, by a substantial margin, the most immigrants over the next 25 years. According to the Department of Transport more than 40 % of traffic in London can expect to be in very congested conditions.
‘The Eddington review of transport in the UK, published in 2006, estimated that, without action to mitigate it, congestion on England’s roads could cost an additional £23 – 24 billion each year by 2025,’ said Sir Andrew. ‘Up to £5 billion of this could be due to the impact that immigration will have on traffic growth. Congestion is a real cost to business in the UK, undermining competitiveness and productivity, contributing to climate change and damaging the quality of life’.
He said it was very clear that the vast majority of the population, including immigrants themselves, were totally opposed to the current levels and many of the consequences that flow from it.
‘We welcome the Government’s commitment to substantially reducing immigration into the UK and our report shows just why, in one area alone, it is vital that they succeed,’ said Sir Andrew.
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Thousands of illegal immigrants are granted settlement every year
Figures just released in a Parliamentary answer[1] show that, under a concession introduced by Labour in 2003, nearly 9,000 illegal immigrants have been granted permanent residence in Britain with full access to the Welfare State. Another 22,600 attained permanent residence after 10 years legal residence in Britain.
The figures show that the numbers granted residence have climbed significantly in the last three years. They may well climb further when Labour’s immigration boom has its full effect.
Commenting, Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK said “These numbers will need careful watching. The government are now requiring students to show progression before they can extend their visas but there will be a backlog of “professional students” who will still be able to claim permanent settlement. The concession for illegal immigrants should be reviewed. It amounts to a slow motion amnesty. There is no reason why illegal residence in Britain, however long, should qualify someone to the full benefits of the Welfare State.”
Note to Editors:
1 Parliamentary Answer Number 54384, Column 1110W of 10th May 2011
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were granted leave to remain after (a) 10 years legal residence and (b) 14 years illegal residence in the UK in each year between 1997 and 2010. [54384]
Damian Green: The following table shows the number of people granted leave to remain after making a long residency application for (a) 10 year legal residence and (b) 14 years illegal residence in the UK covering the period 1April 2003 to the 31 December 2010. The figures are separated by the year in which a decision was made.
The provision to grant indefinite leave to remain (ILR) on the basis of 14 year long term residence, along with that of 10 year long term residence, was introduced into the immigration rules in April 2003. Therefore we are unable to provide data prior to this date.
Number of individuals granted leave to remain |
|||
|
(a) 10 year legal residence |
(b) 14 year illegal residence |
Total |
2003 (from April) |
2,043 |
952 |
2,995 |
2004 |
2,260 |
781 |
3,041 |
2005 |
2,581 |
730 |
3,311 |
2006 |
3,391 |
799 |
4,190 |
2007 |
2,411 |
949 |
3,360 |
2008 |
2,148 |
902 |
3,050 |
2009 |
3,042 |
2,061 |
5,103 |
2010 |
4,759 |
1,774 |
6,533 |
|
22,635 |
8,948 |
31,583 |
Note: All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. |
|||
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Seven out of Ten Lib Dem Voters Want Net Immigration sharply cut: New poll shows strong support for Cameron’s target
A new YouGov poll has found that 72% of potential Liberal Democrat voters want net immigration of 100,000 or less per year. A majority (55%) of Lib Dem supporters wanted to see a much lower figure of 50,000 or less. Only 8% wanted the present level of 200,000 a year or more.
Results for Labour voters were almost identical. 74% of potential Labour voters favour net immigration of 100,000 or less a year and a majority (64%) want 50,000 or less; only 7% wanted 200,000 or more.
Conservative voters were 92% in favour of 100,000 or less while only 2% wanted 200,000 or more.
Taking the public as a whole, 79% favoured 100,000 or less while 5% wanted 200,000 or more. This underlines the strength of support right across the political spectrum for David Cameron’s aim to cut net migration to the “tens of thousands” during the course of the Parliament.
The poll also found strong support among potential Liberal Democrat voters for the Government’s measures to limit the number of economic migrants to Britain. 76% supported a limit while 18% opposed it, of those 4% strongly opposed. Labour voters took the same view while 96% of Conservatives supported a limit to economic migration, with only 3% opposing.
Replicate questions were posed in a YouGov survey last November and showed a very similar pattern in response to both questions. This suggests that people have not been influenced by recent criticism of the government policy.
Commenting, Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK said "It is now absolutely clear that potential Lib Dem voters overwhelmingly support the Conservative policy of reducing net immigration to 100,000 or less. Who do Lib Dem leaders think they are speaking for when they oppose this policy?"
Notes to editors
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,530 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 8th - 9th May 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
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Migrationwatch calls for firmer action on sham marriages.
From Monday 9 May, the government is being obliged by the courts to abandon its requirement that a marriage or civil partnership involving a partner subject to immigration control must have the prior permission of the Home Office (a “Certificate of Approval”).
Migrationwatch therefore called today for Registrars to be given a new power to delay suspicious marriages for up to three months to allow time for them to be investigated. This, of itself, would be a deterrent to bogus applicants (See Briefing Paper No 8.53).
They also suggested tougher checks when those with marriage certificates applied for Leave to Remain – the second stage of the process. The Immigration Rules require that the couple intend to live together permanently as man and wife without recourse to public funds. In cases of sham marriages this would clearly not be the case.
Commenting, Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migrationwatch, said “Sham marriages are a huge cost to the tax payer as they admit the bogus partner to the full panoply of welfare benefits, including housing. The courts have given full weight to the human rights of applicants but none to those of the tax payer. Tougher measures, proof against further appeals, are now needed to deal with the situation that has resulted.
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