My Lords, the figures show that immigration will account for 92% of our population increase in the next 15 years. That is five times the population of Birmingham, our own second-largest city. Furthermore, in the 20 years since the 2001 census, the Muslim population of England and Wales has more than doubled from 1.6 million to 3.9 million. These are very large numbers and, if that rate were to continue, it would surely have a considerable impact on social cohesion. When will the Government face up to the situation and take effective action to reduce the scale of immigration, which is having such a massive, unspoken impact on our society?

My Lords, the figures show that immigration will account for 92% of our population increase in the next 15 years. That is five times the population of Birmingham, our own second-largest city. Furthermore, in the 20 years since the 2001 census, the Muslim population of England and Wales has more than doubled from 1.6 million to 3.9 million. These are very large numbers and, if that rate were to continue, it would surely have a considerable impact on social cohesion. When will the Government face up to the situation and take effective action to reduce the scale of immigration, which is having such a massive, unspoken impact on our society?

Lords question for short debate on what plans they have to prevent the population of the United Kingdom reaching an unsustainable level.

Lords question for short debate on what plans they have to prevent the population of the United Kingdom reaching an unsustainable level.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what would be the percentage increase in the population of the United Kingdom if net migration were 165,000 per year over the next five years; and what is their estimate of the cost to additional public services and associated infrastructure required to meet the needs...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what would be the percentage increase in the population of the United Kingdom if net migration were 165,000 per year over the next five years; and what is their estimate of the cost to additional public services and associated infrastructure required to meet the needs...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the projected increase in households in the 2012-based household projections for England are as a result of (1) population growth, and (2) future net migration.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the projected increase in households in the 2012-based household projections for England are as a result of (1) population growth, and (2) future net migration.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the impact of international migration on the population of the United Kingdom, taking into account the children of immigrants already in the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the impact of international migration on the population of the United Kingdom, taking into account the children of immigrants already in the United Kingdom.

My Lords, I declare an interest as the chairman of Migration Watch. I thank the Minister for his reply. This is my first intervention on this subject in your Lordships’ House. Does the Minister agree with me that a sensible level of immigration is a natural and valuable part of an open society and economy? Indeed, there are a number of Members of this House whose very presence attests to that. Is the Minister aware that of the increase in the UK population over the past 10 years, at least two-thirds was due to immigration, and that if you include the natural increase in the number of migrants

who are already here, that percentage becomes 80%? Will he therefore instruct his officials to clarify the position so that the public finally and fully understand the impact of immigration on our society? Lastly, is he aware that if net migration is allowed to continue at present levels, in the next 10 years we will have to build the equivalent of the city of Birmingham every two years, with the schools, hospitals, et cetera, that will be necessary?

My Lords, I declare an interest as the chairman of Migration Watch. I thank the Minister for his reply. This is my first intervention on this subject in your Lordships’ House. Does the Minister agree with me that a sensible level of immigration is a natural and valuable part of an open society and economy? Indeed, there are a number of Members of this House whose very presence attests to that. Is the Minister aware that of the increase in the UK population over the past 10 years, at least two-thirds was due to immigration, and that if you include the natural increase in the number of migrants

who are already here, that percentage becomes 80%? Will he therefore instruct his officials to clarify the position so that the public finally and fully understand the impact of immigration on our society? Lastly, is he aware that if net migration is allowed to continue at present levels, in the next 10 years we will have to build the equivalent of the city of Birmingham every two years, with the schools, hospitals, et cetera, that will be necessary?

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the increase in successive censuses since 1961 in the number of households in England and Wales they consider to be due to increases in population.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the increase in successive censuses since 1961 in the number of households in England and Wales they consider to be due to increases in population.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the population increase is attributed to immigration under the most recent United Kingdom population projection under the high migration variant; and whether that percentage includes future children born to migrant parents who have already arrived in the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the population increase is attributed to immigration under the most recent United Kingdom population projection under the high migration variant; and whether that percentage includes future children born to migrant parents who have already arrived in the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans for the next publication of population estimates or projections to set out the full impact of immigration, including the natural increase due to immigrants already in the United Kingdom, on the growth of the United Kingdom population.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans for the next publication of population estimates or projections to set out the full impact of immigration, including the natural increase due to immigrants already in the United Kingdom, on the growth of the United Kingdom population.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of population growth in the United Kingdom over the last 10 years has been the result of immigration or the natural increase of the immigrant population.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of population growth in the United Kingdom over the last 10 years has been the result of immigration or the natural increase of the immigrant population.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the impact on projected population growth of births to migrants already living in the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the impact on projected population growth of births to migrants already living in the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis immigration assumptions have been adopted in population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics; how such assumptions have compared against immigration levels actually experienced; and what is the basis for any difference between assumptions and actual levels.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis immigration assumptions have been adopted in population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics; how such assumptions have compared against immigration levels actually experienced; and what is the basis for any difference between assumptions and actual levels.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the projected population growth in England over the next 25 years would be attributable to immigration if the children of all migrants were also included.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the projected population growth in England over the next 25 years would be attributable to immigration if the children of all migrants were also included.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proportion of United Kingdom population growth ascribed to international migration in the population projections published by the Office for National Statistics includes future births to migrants already living in the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proportion of United Kingdom population growth ascribed to international migration in the population projections published by the Office for National Statistics includes future births to migrants already living in the United Kingdom.