§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what adjustment for asylum seekers has been made to the International Passenger Survey Data in each of the years 1995 and 2002 to arrive at the net immigration estimates. [111274]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Nicholas Soames dated 6 May 2003:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the adjustment forAsylum Seekers made to International Passenger Survey data in the years 1995 to 2002 to arrive at the net immigration estimates. I am replying in his absence. (111274)
The adjustments made to the Intern In November 2002 ONS published interim revised net international migration estimates for the UK for 1992–2001. These superseded the previously published international migration estimates. The results of the 2001 Census showed that net migration to the UK had been overestimated between 1991 and 2001. The interim estimates include an adjustment equivalent to the average annual overestimation of net migration since 1991 indicated by the Census results, approximately 76,000 each year. The adjustment has been made to the overall net migration figures, so there is no separate adjustment for asylum seekers currently available.
616WRevised international migration estimates for the years 1992 to 2001 will be published shortly. The methodology used to derive the number of Asylum Seekers, and other types of migrants not covered by the IPS, in the revised estimates will be made available at the same time. International migration estimates for 2002 will be published in late Autumn 2003.