To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of projected levels on net migration into the UK over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 25 years; from which countries arrivals are expected; and if she will make a statement. (226841)

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated October 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what recent estimate has been made of projected levels of net migration into the UK over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 25 years; from which countries arrivals are expected. (226841)

National population projections are normally produced every two years. The latest (2006-based) national population projections were published by the Office for National Statistics in October 2007 and the next (2008-based) set are planned for publication in October 2009.

The levels of net inward migration to the UK for future years assumed in the 2006-based projections are summarised in the following table. The assumptions underlying national population projections are demographic trend based. They are not forecasts. They do not attempt to predict the impact that future government policies, changing economic circumstances or other factors (whether in the UK or overseas) might have on demographic behaviour.

These assumptions are not available broken down by country of origin or destination.