U.K. Had More Immigrants Than Emigrants Last Year

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29391, 19 December 1960, Page 24

U.K. Had More Immigrants Than Emigrants Last Year

(NX. Presi Association—Copyright)

LONDON, December 17. Migration from Britain is falling, while migration into Britain is reaching record proportions, an official report said last night. The annual report of the Overseas Migration Board said emigration 'last year totalled about 130.000, against 142,000 in 1058 and the almost record figure of 230,000 in 1957. . Australia increased its Intake for the fourth successive year, but the flow to the other main receiving countries, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the Federation of Bhodesia and Nyasaland, continued to decline. The total outflow from Britain to the five main receiving Commonwealth countries last year was 84,000 against 94,500 in 1958. The figure for emigrants to other Commonwealth countries, colonial territories and protectorates was 24,000 with a further 22,000 going to foreign countries. Although it seemed likely that Australia would continue to maintain her figures, the board saw no evidence to suggest any marked change in the aggregate flow of emigrants to the Commonwealth in the immediate future. The immigration total last year rose to 177,499 from 165,485 in the previous year. The figure from independent Commonwealth countries was 35,198 (against 32,484 in 1958), British colonial territories and protectorates 30,842 (against 28,221), Irish Republic 64,494 (against 58,316), foreign countries 45,797 (against 45,418) and the Channel Islands 1168 (against 1046). The report commented on the great increase in the flow of students into the United Kingdom in recent years. Commonwealth and foreign students attending courses for more than six

months rose from about 10.000 in 1950 to about 47,500 in 1959-60.

The proportion of oversees students to the population of Britain was by far the highest of any country in the world, the report said.

One factor explaining the low ebb of United Kingdom emigration for the third successive year was undoubtedly Britain’s present prosperity and rising standard of living, the report added.