![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/high-levels-immigration.jpg\" "\\"high")
<\/a>Net migration to Britain last year hit a record high, according to official figures published today.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Office for National Statistics said that net migration in 2010 was 252,000 – the highest calendar year figure on record.<\/span><\/p>\n The ONS said that while\u00a0immigration\u00a0was steady at 591,000, the rise in the net figure was due to a fall in the number of people leaving the country.<\/span><\/p>\n In all, 339,000 people emigrated from the UK – the lowest level of emigration since 2001.<\/span><\/p>\n Emigration by non-British citizens also fell to 203,000 from a peak of 255,000 in 2008.<\/span><\/p>\n The ONS said fewer people were leaving the country from the UK for work-related reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n Provisional figures for the 12 months to March 2011 show 174,000 left due to work – the lowest figure for five years.<\/span><\/p>\n The main reason for\u00a0immigration\u00a0into the UK continued to be to study – which rose from 211,000 in 2009 to 238,000 last year.<\/span><\/p>\n Immigration\u00a0Minister Damian Green insisted that the Government remained committed to reducing net migration to the “tens of thousands” during the course of the current parliament.<\/span><\/p>\n He said that after peaking in September last year, the numbers had started to come down.<\/span><\/p>\n “These figures show that the Government was right to take swift action to overhaul the\u00a0immigration\u00a0system,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n “Latest quarterly figures show a decrease in the number of student and work visas issued compared to a year earlier – an early sign that our policies are starting to take effect.<\/span><\/p>\n “The latest net migration figures are also encouraging, showing a fall since the recent peak in September 2010, but we are clear there is much more to be done.”<\/span><\/p>\n Answering questions on the migration statistics following a speech on race relations in south London, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said people wanted “an\u00a0immigration\u00a0system that is tough on abuses – and particularly tough on illegal\u00a0immigration\u00a0– but also fair for people who want to make a contribution to this country”.<\/span><\/p>\n He added: “When you look at net figures – and I haven’t looked at them in depth yet – you need to work out how many people are leaving as well as how many are coming in and settling.<\/span><\/p>\n “We are doing a number of things. We are closing a lot of loopholes which have been abused in the past, installing much better checks on our borders so we know who is coming in and who’s going out.<\/span><\/p>\n “This is not a problem that you solve overnight. I think people are quite rightly very, very concerned that they can have confidence in the integrity of ourimmigration\u00a0system and that’s what the coalition Government is determined to demonstrate.”<\/span><\/p>\n Last year’s record high compares with total net migration of 198,000 in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n The previous high for a calendar year was 245,000 in 2004 – although mid-year data for the 12 months to June 2005 reached 260,000.<\/span><\/p>\n Provisional figures for the 12 months to March 2011, however, offered some comfort to ministers, dropping to 245,000.<\/span><\/p>\n It compares with the peak of 255,000 in the 12 months to September 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n However Home Office figures also released today showed a sharp drop in the numbers of failed asylum seekers and other illegal migrants leaving the country.<\/span><\/p>\n In the three months to September 2011, 13,253 were removed or departed voluntarily – a 13% drop on the 15,261 who left in the same period last year.<\/span><\/p>\n At the same time asylum application were up 9% – from 4,276 in the third quarter of last year to 4,912.<\/span><\/p>\n The Home Office said the main sources of increase were applications from people coming from Pakistan, Iran and Syria.<\/span><\/p>\n Downing Street said Prime Minister David Cameron remained committed to reducing\u00a0immigration\u00a0from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands.<\/span><\/p>\n Asked whether he thought it could be done, Mr Cameron’s official spokesman said: “Yes, he does, but clearly that process is going to take some time.”<\/span><\/p>\n