Downing Street Says » Population Growth

» Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Population Growth

Asked if the Prime Minister thought that the country was ready for 70 million people, the PMS referred to the ONS press release that morning and pointed out that they prefaced their findings with the phrase ‘if passed trends continue’. They went on to say that ‘the assumptions underlying national population projections’ were ‘demographic trend based’; they were not forecasts so it was an extrapolation of historical trends, not a forecast, as the ONS explicitly states. The ONS did not attempt to predict the impact that future Government policies, change in economic circumstances or other factors might have on demographic behaviour; this subject needed to be looked at in that context. In relation to the general issue, the Government had set up the Migration Impact Forum (MIF), which included representatives from the police and local authorities and we would also be introducing our tough new points system to help manage migration, which would come into effect in approximately 150 days time.

Asked again how the Prime Minister felt about the figure of 70 million, whether it was a forecast or not, the PMS repeated that the Government had introduced the MIF, which included all the key bodies, in order to ensure that we could manage the impact that migration has on communities.

Asked to explain more about the MIF, the PMS said that the Home Office could give as much detail as was needed on it.

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