Political Monitor

Excerpt from Political Monitor for APSCO for the week 23/8/2010

What's being said in Westminster

Net migration rises to 196,000, driven by student visas

Net migration to the UK rose to 196,000 people in 2009, compared with 163,000 in
2008. Levels of immigration fell in 2009, but emigration also fell sharply from
427,000 to 371,000, resulting in a positive net figure for migration from the UK.
Figures show that while work-related visas have begun to decline, student visas to
the UK have risen by 14%.

In the year to June 2010, 66,140 visas were issued for Tier 2 migrants under the points
based system, a decrease on the previous years figures.

Immigration minister, Damian Green said:

"These figures show that Labour's immigration legacy is even worse than anyone feared.
They show that the Points-Based System was out of control and would not deliver a
sustainable level of net migration despite Gordon Brown's claims throughout the general
election campaign."

"The task facing the new government is to bear down on all routes of immigration. We can
now see how necessary our proposed limit on economic immigration is. This will be
accompanied by action on other routes of immigration and settlement. We will be unveiling
these over the coming months."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

"It's very clear from the figures that the increase in recorded immigration has nothing to do
with the number of non-EU work permits issued: they actually declined.

"I've full confidence that my colleagues understand the need for immigration control
measures that support business recovery and economic growth."

The full Migration Statistics Quarterly report from the Office for National Statistics is available
here: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/mig0810.pdf

UK economy growth ahead of estimates

The UK's economic growth reached the rate of 1.2% in the second quarter of 2010,
0.1% more than initial estimates according to The Office of National Statistics. The
announcements come as the ONS release the latest figures of the country's
economic performance.

The report also revealed the fastest rate of quarterly expansion since 2001. However,
experts warned that this level of growth does not rule out the possibility of a "double
dip" recession.

HM Treasury spokesman said: "While the government is cautiously optimistic about
the path for the economy, the job is not yet done."

"The priority remains to implement the Budget policies which support economic
rebalancing and help ensure the sustained growth that the Office for Budget
Responsibility forecast this year and next."

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