HL Deb 29 June 1999 vol 603 cc17-8WA
Lord Shore of Stepney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many United Kingdom citizens in each 10 year period since 1945 have emigrated to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United States; and what are the annual figures since 1995 up to the latest available date. [HL3221]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics who has been asked to reply.

Letter from the Director of Social Statistics, Office for National Statistics, Mr. John Fox, dated 29 June 1999.

The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the number of people emigrating to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United States. I am replying in Dr. Holt's absence.

For the years 1945–74, estimates of international migration are not available at this level of detail. The information that you requested for 1975 to 1997, the latest year for which data are available, is shown below.

Estimates of UK Citizens emigrating to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States
Year Australia Canada New Zealand South Africa USA
1975–84 245.7 152.8 58.6 135.8 132.4
1985–94 251.6 61.4 37.0 37.8 152.0
1995 20.3 4.6 6.3 2.5 17.2
1996 20.7 3.9 9.3 2.8 15.6
1997 20.6 6.6 6.8 3.0 15.3

The estimates in the table are derived from data obtained from the International Passenger Survey, a continuous voluntary survey which covers principal air and sea routes between the United Kingdom (UK) and countries outside the British Isles. The routes between the UK and the Irish Republic are excluded, as is all movement of diplomats and armed forces personnel. It is also highly likely that the survey excludes visitor switchers: persons admitted as short term visitors who are subsequently granted a stay for a year or longer.