Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 December 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 December 2012. It was answered by Nick Hurd (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 December 2012 on behalf of the Cabinet Office. UK Statistics Authority was asked to reply.

Immigration: Commonwealth

Question

(2) how many seasonal workers have entered the UK from (a) inside and (b) outside the EU for work over the Christmas period in each of the last five years.

[131990]

Andrew Rosindell:

Answer

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

Letter from Glen Watson, dated December 2012:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to respond to your recent Parliamentary Questions 1) how levels of immigration from Commonwealth categories have changed in each of the last five years. [131987], and 2) how many seasonal workers have entered the UK from (a) inside and (b) outside the EU for work over the Christmas period in each of the last five years. [131990]

The Office for National Statistics {ONS) produces estimates of long-term international migration (LTIM). ONS uses the UN definition of a long-term migrant in that a person who changes their country of usual residence for a period of 12 months or more. LTIM data is primarily based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS).

Long Term International Migration (LTIM) estimates are available on the ONS website:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-280889

Table 1 provides a summary of immigration from the Commonwealth countries in each of the last five years. This has been taken from Table 2.02 "LTIM Country of Last or Next Residence, 1991-2011", which provides estimates of immigration by country groupings.

ONS does not collect any information specifically on seasonal workers entering the UK for work over the Christmas period.

Table 2.02, Series MN

Long-Term International Migration, time series 1991 to 2011, country of last or next residence
Thousand
Commonwealth
Old Commonwealth
 New Commonwealth
All
 All
 All
 Australia
 Canada
 New Zealand
 South Africa
 All
 Other African
 Indian Subcontinent
 Other
United Kingdom
Inflow
2007
 354
 200
 65
 31
 6
 10
 17
 135
 24
 95
 16
2008
 366
 196
 68
 29
 10
 9
 20
 128
 31
 80
 17
2009
 368
 204
 56
 29
 8
 8
 11
 148
 31
 101
 16
2010
 383
 219
 57
 30
 9
 11
 7
 162
 23
 121
 19
2011
 363
 204
 51
 26
 9
 8
 8
 153
 19
 122
 12
England and Wales
Inflow
2007
 330
 187
 60
 29
 6
 10
 15
 126
 23
 88
 16
2008
 329
 183
 61
 27
 6
 8
 19
 122
 29
 78
 16
2009
 339
 188
 46
 25
 7
 6
 7
 143
 30
 97
 16
2010
 353
 205
 53
 28
 7
 10
 7
 152
 21
 114
 17
2011
 336
 191
 46
 24
 8
 7
 7
 145
 18
 116
 11
Notes:
1. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
2. Please note: From 2004 onwards, All, New and Other Commonwealth exclude Malta and Cyprus.
Source:
Office for National Statistics (ONS), Home Office, Central Statistics Office (CSO) Ireland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
131990; 555 cc241-2W
Session
2012-13
Subjects
Christmas Immigration Migrant workers Seasonal workers
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk