Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the latest net migration figures include UK citizens who have moved abroad for study or work and then returned; and what is their current estimate of those numbers.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Rt Hon. the Viscount Thurso
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
05 June 2023
Dear Lord Thurso,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking whether the latest net migration figures include UK citizens who have moved abroad for study or work and then returned; and what is the current estimate of those numbers (HL8171).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish estimates for British nationals migrating from and to the UK for a period of 12 months or more.
On 25 May the ONS published its latest long-term international migration estimates [1]. Experimental and provisional estimates for the long-term migration of British nationals in 2022 are provided in Table 1.
The immigration estimate includes all British nationals who came into the UK in 2022 and stayed (or intended to stay) for 12 months or longer. The emigration estimate includes all British nationals who left the UK in 2022 and were out (or intended to be out) of the UK for 12 months or longer. Both estimates will include some returning migrants but exclude any whose time abroad or back in the UK was for less than 12 months.
The ONS is unable to quantify net migration by their reason for migration or whether they are returning migrants. This is because the International Passenger Survey (IPS), does not track an individual person’s journeys, only that the person interviewed has exited or entered the country and their reason along with demographic data. The ONS derive estimates from these data. Peoples’ identities are not tracked, so if a person had moved abroad for work or study, the ONS can not say if that same person has returned or not.
The ONS does not produce net migration by the reason for migration due to the lack of data available to monitor a person's specific migrant journey, in particular students who are typically more fluid in their behaviour. Migrants may change their reason for migration between immigration and emigration, making any net migration estimates by reason an over or under estimation of population change. Research is ongoing into this subject, but there are currently no intentions to include net migration by reason in future publications for these reasons.
The ONS is asking for feedback from users, to support the forthcoming consultation on population and migration statistics that is being launched in late June 2023. We would welcome any feedback from yourself in regards to this subject and how population and migration statistics could be improved.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Table 1, Long-term international migration estimates for British nationals, year ending December 2022, UK [2], [3]
Immigration | 88,000 |
Emigration | 92,000 |
Net Migration | -4,000 |
Source: Office for National Statistics
[2] British nationals figures are based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS).
[3] Because of the experimental and provisional nature of these statistics, numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of greenhouse gas emissions from (1) aircraft taking off and landing within the UK, and (2) aircraft taking off in the UK bound for overseas destinations.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that the fight against climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and it is right that we continue to focus on highlighting emissions and plan for their ongoing reduction.
The Government reports on emissions produced by domestic flights operating between UK airports. In accordance with international guidelines set by UNFCCC, the Government also reports on emissions from international flights operating at UK airports.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) report on all of these Greenhouse Gas emissions statistics annually. The statistics for 2018 were published just last week, and are readily available online at gov.uk.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the likely increase in electric vehicles on UK roads between (1) 2020 and 2025, and (2) 2025 and 2030.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Recent years have seen significant year on year rises in UK registrations of electric vehicles. The Government expects this trend to continue, driven by our comprehensive, world-leading support package for the transition to zero emission vehicles.
Exact numbers will depend on a wide range of factors, which are influenced by the markets for vehicles and chargepoint infrastructure, as well as by Government support. As the Prime Minister announced on 4 February, we intend to consult on bringing forward ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether HMRC is able to access UK citizens' bank accounts and other personal data without their permission and without judicial oversight.
Answered by Lord Bates
Under longstanding powers HMRC can require banks and building societies to provide data on interest paid to, or collected on behalf of, their customers, without the customer’s permission or judicial approval.
With the approval of the taxpayer or the First Tier Tribunal, HMRC can require additional information from banks about a specific taxpayer that is reasonably required to check the taxpayer’s tax position. These data and information gathering powers, some of which have been in continual use since their introduction at the end of the eighteenth century, are regularly reviewed.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of those recommendations of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards that were put into law through the provisions of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government has made significant steps to reform the financial services sector following the financial crisis, including by implementing the major recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Banking Standards (PCBS). The Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 implemented several of the PCBS’s recommendations. This includes the introduction of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, which takes action on individual accountability and misconduct, the establishment of the Payment Systems Regulator, and giving the Prudential Regulation Authority a secondary competition objective. The Government continues to monitor the impact of these reforms.Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the availability of bank accounts to small community groups, charities and societies.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Treasury has not made such an assessment. The RBS alternative remedies package will see a £775m investment in business banking facilities, enabling challenger banks to provide a larger range of business bank accounts.
The Government recognises the enormous contribution that small and local charities make to society, and is working to enable smaller charities to become more independent, resilient and sustainable.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time is in Highland for people requiring an employment and support allowance work capability assessment.
Answered by Mark Harper - Secretary of State for Transport
Official statistics for ESA processing times are not readily available and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.
The total number of people whose Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) functional assessment has not yet been completed in the Highland Local Authority area is 1,700; of these 1,400 relate to new ESA claims.
We have taken robust action to improve the process and are in daily contact with Atos. We are committed to putting this right.
Atos Healthcare will continue to deliver Work Capability Assessments until they exit from the contract on 28 February 2015. The new supplier, MAXIMUS Health and Human Services, will be responsible for all service delivery from 1 March 2015 including any outstanding work carried over from Atos. The priority for MAXIMUS will be to transition the service smoothly from Atos and stabilise the service to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times without compromising quality.
The process for claimants will remain the same during the transition so they should continue to attend their assessments.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants for employment and support allowance in Highland are awaiting a work capability assessment.
Answered by Mark Harper - Secretary of State for Transport
Official statistics for ESA processing times are not readily available and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.
The total number of people whose Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) functional assessment has not yet been completed in the Highland Local Authority area is 1,700; of these 1,400 relate to new ESA claims.
We have taken robust action to improve the process and are in daily contact with Atos. We are committed to putting this right.
Atos Healthcare will continue to deliver Work Capability Assessments until they exit from the contract on 28 February 2015. The new supplier, MAXIMUS Health and Human Services, will be responsible for all service delivery from 1 March 2015 including any outstanding work carried over from Atos. The priority for MAXIMUS will be to transition the service smoothly from Atos and stabilise the service to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times without compromising quality.
The process for claimants will remain the same during the transition so they should continue to attend their assessments.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants for employment and support allowance in Highland have been waiting for a work capability assessment for (a) longer than three months, (b) longer than four months, (c) longer than five months and (d) longer than six months.
Answered by Mark Harper - Secretary of State for Transport
Official statistics for ESA processing times are not readily available and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.
The total number of people whose Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) functional assessment has not yet been completed in the Highland Local Authority area is 1,700; of these 1,400 relate to new ESA claims.
We have taken robust action to improve the process and are in daily contact with Atos. We are committed to putting this right.
Atos Healthcare will continue to deliver Work Capability Assessments until they exit from the contract on 28 February 2015. The new supplier, MAXIMUS Health and Human Services, will be responsible for all service delivery from 1 March 2015 including any outstanding work carried over from Atos. The priority for MAXIMUS will be to transition the service smoothly from Atos and stabilise the service to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times without compromising quality.
The process for claimants will remain the same during the transition so they should continue to attend their assessments.
Asked by: Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting time for work capability assessments in Highland; and what discussions he has had with Atos on that reduction.
Answered by Mark Harper - Secretary of State for Transport
Official statistics for ESA processing times are not readily available and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.
The total number of people whose Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) functional assessment has not yet been completed in the Highland Local Authority area is 1,700; of these 1,400 relate to new ESA claims.
We have taken robust action to improve the process and are in daily contact with Atos. We are committed to putting this right.
Atos Healthcare will continue to deliver Work Capability Assessments until they exit from the contract on 28 February 2015. The new supplier, MAXIMUS Health and Human Services, will be responsible for all service delivery from 1 March 2015 including any outstanding work carried over from Atos. The priority for MAXIMUS will be to transition the service smoothly from Atos and stabilise the service to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times without compromising quality.
The process for claimants will remain the same during the transition so they should continue to attend their assessments.