Net Migration To UK Reaches Record High

Net migration to the UK jumped by 82,000 to a record high of 336,000 in the year to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

During the 12 month period, 636,000 people arrived in the UK while 300,000 emigrated to other countries.

Of those who arrived in the UK, 45% were non-EU citizens, while 42% were EU citizens. The rest (13%) were British citizens returning to the UK.

"The most common reason for migrating to the UK is work," the ONS said.

According to ONS statistics, almost 300,000 people arrived in the UK for work-related reasons - which is significantly higher than the previous year. Of those, about two-thirds had a "definite job to go to".

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said the latest figures "underline the challenge we face to reduce net migration to sustainable levels".

"We remain committed to reforms across the whole of Government to deliver the controlled migration system which is in the best interests of our country."

"As the Prime Minister has said, in the past it has been too easy for some businesses to bring in workers from overseas rather than to take the decision to train our workforce here at home.

"That is why our long-term economic plan, which will see many more young Britons given the training and skills they need to fill the jobs our growing economy is creating, is so important."

The second most common reason for moving to the UK was to study.

During the year to June, 192,000 people arrived in Britain to undertake formal study.

The 29,024 asylum applications were the highest for any 12-month period since the year to June 2005, at 29,024.

The largest number of applications came from nationals of Eritrea (3,726), followed by Sudan (2,842), Iran (2,407) and Syria (2,402). A total of 12,011 people were granted asylum or an alternative form of protection in the year to September.

The figures were released as Germany's interior minister said the European Union should set a "generous" limit on the number of refugees it takes every year.

A significant driver of the increase in EU migration was a growing number of people arriving from Romania and Bulgaria.

It is estimated that 50,000 people from those two countries arrived during the 12 month period, compared with 19,000 the year before.

The figures are a blow to the Government’s aim of getting net migration below 100,000 - but the influx may have helped George Osborne as he softened the impact of austerity in his Spending Review .

The Office for Budget Responsibility indicated population growth fuelled by migration was the main driver behind its revised five-year public finances forecast, which handed the Chancellor a surprise £27bn windfall.