Written question asked by Lord Adonis (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 February 2011 on behalf of the UK Statistics Authority.

Immigration

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to replace the International Passenger Survey with an immigration accounting mechanism, as recommended in the 13th Special Report of 2007–08 of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, published on 18 September 2008.

Answer: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Adonis, dated February 2011. As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the plans are to replace the International Passenger Survey with an immigration accounting mechanism, as recommended in the 13th Special Report of 2007-08 of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, published on 18 September 2008 (HL6652). In 2009, ONS implemented major changes to the International Passenger Survey (IPS) in line with the recommendations of the TSC report. These changes have delivered material improvements to the reliability of the migrant sample. ONS have no plans to replace the IPS as it is also used for tourism statistics and the balance of payments travel account. ONS is working closely with the Home Office and the UK Border Agency to determine how to deliver statistical benefits from the e-Borders Programme. However, given the timescales needed to achieve the required level of coverage, these benefits are not expected to be realised before 2015.

Secondary information