About this release
Published 26 November 2015
© Crown copyright 2015
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2015/about-this-release
Valid: 26 November 2015 to 24 February 2016
Back to ‘Immigration statistics July to September 2015’ content page.
The Immigration Statistics quarterly release gives an overview of work on immigration control, entry clearance, asylum and enforcement within the Home Office, including the work of UK Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration. It helps inform users including the government, Parliament, the media and the wider public, and supports the development and monitoring of policy.
The release includes the following section briefings: (cross-cutting) Work, Study, Family, (single section) Visas, Admissions, Extensions, Settlement, Citizenship, Asylum, Removals and Voluntary Departures and Detention. Detailed tables of figures accompany each of the single section briefings, providing data up to the third quarter of 2015 (July to September).
The Immigration Statistics release is a National Statistics output produced to the highest professional standards and free from political interference. It has been produced by statisticians working in the Migration and Borders Analysis Unit within the Home Office Science Unit in accordance with the Home Office’s ‘Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics’ which covers our policy on revisions and other matters. The Chief Statistician, as Head of Profession, reports to the National Statistician with respect to all professional statistical matters and oversees all Home Office National Statistics products with respect to the Code, being responsible for their timing, content and methodology.
1. National Statistics
The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:
- meet identified user needs
- are well explained and readily accessible
- are produced according to sound methods
- are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.
The assessment report (No. 177) and letter of confirmation as National Statistics can be viewed on the UK Statistics Authority website, Assessment reports.
2. Changes to topic briefings and tables
There have been a range of improvements to the following topic briefings and tables in this release:
2.1 Changes to tables
In response to the consultation, the Migration Statistics team in the Home Office has initiated work to make the Immigration Statistics tables more user friendly. This coincided with the recent publication of Government Statistical Service (GSS) guidance on releasing statistics in spreadsheets, available here:’ Releasing statistics in spreadsheets: Good practice guidance’.
The Home Office Migration Statistics team have made a number of changes to the spreadsheets that form part of the Immigration Statistics release, including adding a contents sheet and improving navigation using internal links.
2.2 Revisions to data
Within the Removals and Voluntary Departures section there have been revisions relating to the category ‘other confirmed voluntary departures’. Retrospective checks mean that figures for voluntary departures are subject to upward revision. This is particularly for confirmed voluntary departures that are generated as a result of detailed retrospective data-matching, but some more limited revision is needed for notified voluntary departures to allow time for recording notifications from those who have departed. In light of this, other confirmed voluntary departures and notified voluntary departures for the first and second quarter of 2015 combined have been revised upwards from 4,763 to 6,278 (32% increase) and from 6,548 to 6,695 (2% increase) respectively in this quarterly release.
3. Future changes
The following changes are planned, subject to data quality and available resources:
3.1 Exit checks
The Home Office introduced exit checks from 8 April 2015 to provide more comprehensive information on travel movements across the UK border since that date. Home Office statisticians are considering the use of the data collected for statistical reporting purposes, and plan to publish an initial report on 26 May 2016.
3.2 Migration Transparency Data webpage
A range of key input and impact indicators are currently published by the Home Office on the Migration Transparency Data webpage. We are considering ways in which we could more closely integrate the publication of the National Statistics and Official Statistics on immigration with the transparency data and have now included web links in relevant topic briefs to this information. We will keep stakeholders informed of any further developments.
4. Migration Statistics User Forum
The Forum has been established for discussion of migration statistics, allowing users to discuss their need for and use of the data and for producers to consult on presentation and changes. The main focus is on figures for the UK, but this would not exclude discussion of migration statistics for other countries. Home Office Science intends to use this list for communication with users, including data and release developments. The Forum is a user-led group, with close to 200 members, that is now affiliated to the Royal Statistical Society.
The list also provides access to contact details for the Home Office’s Migration Statistics team via downloading from the MIGRATION-STATS File Area.
The distribution list is available to join through the MIGRATION-STATS JISCmail list.
Copies of the presentations made at the last annual conference of the Forum, held on 15 September 2015, are available at: Migration Statistics User Forum Conference 2015 (Click on the ‘View slides’ links underneath each session in the programme).
The next conference of the Migration Statistics User Forum is currently planned for 21 September 2016. If you would be interested in becoming a member of the organising committee for the next conference please email MSUF@homeoffice.gov.uk. A planning meeting is usually organised in the March preceding the September conference.
5. Home Office statistical work programme
The Home Office has published its ‘Statistical Work Programme 2014 to 2015’ which outlines the most significant outputs, highlights some recent developments and outlines future plans. Pages 3 to 4 of the work programme cover our statistics on immigration. Pages 11 to 12 of the work programme provide details of how you can provide feedback on the work programme and outputs.
6. Further information and feedback
We welcome feedback on Immigration Statistics. If you have any comments, suggestions, enquiries or need assistance in accessing the data, please email them to: MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Or write to:
The Editor, Immigration Statistics
Migration Statistics
17th Floor Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY
Press enquiries should be made to:
Home Office Press Office
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Tel: 020 7035 3535
The Home Office Responsible Statistician is Chris Kershaw. The Home Office Migration Statistics mission statement is:
We produce timely, accurate and objective statistics on immigration to support effective delivery of Home Office objectives and to inform government, Parliament and the public.