asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of United Kingdom residents who were born abroad. [HL1985]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, Director of Macroeconomics and Labour Market, to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, dated 27 February.

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Question regarding the estimate of the number of United Kingdom residents who were born abroad. I am replying in her absence. (HL1985)

Based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the estimated number of UK residents in 2006 who were born abroad was 5.9 million.

When interpreting this figure, it is important to bear in mind that the Labour Force Survey (LFS) is designed to capture all people in the UK living in a private household or NHS accommodation. Some UK residents are not captured by the LFS including students living in halls of residence who do not have a UK-resident parent, and people living in other types of communal establishment (such as hostels, hotels, boarding houses, or mobile home sites). These factors may contribute to the LFS giving a slight underestimate of the number of foreign-born residents in the UK.

As with any sample survey, LFS estimates are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of United Kingdom residents at least one of whose parents was born abroad. [HL1986]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, Director of Macroeconomics and Labour Market, to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, dated 27 February 2008.

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Question concerning the estimate of the number of United Kingdom residents at least one of whose parents was born abroad. I am replying in her absence. (HL1986)

The information requested is not available.