Migration Review 2012/13

Article

This briefing reviews the migration trends and policy changes in 2012 and looks forward to possible developments in 2013. Next year will be a crucial one for the government because they will be more than halfway through the parliament during which they has pledged to reduce net immigration to the 'tens of thousands'.

In 2013, we expect:

  • Further significant falls in non-EU student immigration
  • Continued steady declines in non-EU immigration for work and family reasons
  • A modest increase in immigration from the EU
  • A small increase in asylum claims
  • Rising net emigration by UK nationals, and modest increases in emigration by non-EU nationals

The briefing shows that net migration will fall to around 140,000 next year, following a fall of over 25% in the year to March 2012. But net migration will begin to rise again in 2014, although final figures for that year will not be available until after the 2015 General Election.

Related items

  1. Doctor with patient for consultation, medical advice or procedure at clinic

    Taken to heart: Inequalities in heart disease in Scotland

    More than 7.6 million people across the UK live with cardiovascular disease (CVD), around twice as many as live with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer combined. 
  2. A beautiful sunset in the Scottish highlands with renewable energy wind turbines far into the horizon

    Skills passports: An essential part of a fair transition

    This month, government will publish its Clean Energy Workforce Strategy. This plan covers two aims. First, filling the growing demand for skills in clean energy industries is essential to keep on track to reach the government’s clean power…
  3. The Bank of England is watched over by a statue of the Duke of Wellington seated on his horse

    Fixing the leak: How to end the £22 billion annual taxpayer losses at the Bank of England

    The Bank of England increased its interest rates over recent years, aimed at reducing inflation. But this has also had an unintended effect on the Bank of England’s massive government bond buying – ‘quantitative easing’ – programme.