now, those are office for national statistics figures , for national statistics figures, but the homeshows actually the number of student visas issued to dependents is much higher than that 96,000 figure at 154,000. and the reason there's that difference there is that these are visas issued , but these are visas issued, but those dependents haven't yet arrived in the uk . so 154,000 arrived in the uk. so 154,000 dependents expected in the uk in the coming year, having been granted these student visas for dependents. that is an aspect that the government does intend to clamp down their tightening that to ensure that students cannot take as many dependents overits cannot take as many dependents over its interesting when people think of students , they might think of students, they might not necessarily think of families with with spouses and perhaps children or even elderly. >> depends as probably is the case in some cases here. i wonder what moves has the government made in this area? because i seem to remember an announcement when the last set of migration figures came out, when the g

office of national statistics. net migration is the number of people arriving in the uk minus those who left. let's get more on the latest net migration figures fors at the office for national statistics about their findings. our latest figures forjune 23 are 672,000, which is the highest level that we've seen recently. and so, those numbers, they have gone up since last year, injune 2022, but they're actually lower than our december 22 estimates. but it's really important that we understand the context that these numbers are in. so, before the pandemic, migration patterns were relatively stable, we saw a lot more people coming from the eu. whereas, since the pandemic, we've seen behaviours changing and we're seeing more people coming from the non—eu to study, to work and they seem to be staying for longer and they're bringing their dependants with them. i'm more than happy to go into more detail on that. yeah, please do — just explain them to us. there was some speculation, some thought the numbers could hit 745,000. and while they're up from 607,000 in the previous 12 months to 672,000, where are those coming from? because the numbers were up l

office of national statistics. net migration is the number of people arriving in the uk, minus those who left. jay lindop, from the office for, joined us to discuss what the numbers mean. we don't necessarily look to the future but what we do do is we look at the 12 month definition of the migrants. so when we produced our most recent figures you have to make assumptions based on past behaviour and that is why we have been looking back to see how behaviour is changing so we can see the people are staying longer, students that are staying longer, students that are coming we are seeing more transitions onto work visa possibly as a consequence of the new graduate route and we are seeing workers stay for longer as well. so what we are seeing is a slowing in immigration and an increase in emigration. we do know from past experience that when you have high levels of immigration, critically from students who often then see emigration begin to rise. with these changing behaviours it is rid but to brick wall happen in the future. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticus describes the political pressure the government is under t

more now on those net migration figures published by the office for national statistics earlier thislet's take a look again at the numbers. gfx uk net migration was 672,000 in the year tojune 2023. this number is slightly higher compared to the year tojune 2022. however, it is down on updated estimates from the office of national statistics. net migration is the number of people arriving in the uk, minus those who left. reducing net migration, and stopping small boats crossing the channel is one of the prime minister's key pledges to the nation. i'm joined now by the shadow home secretary, yvette cooper. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. now labour has been critical of the government's record on immigration. what does labour think is unacceptable number of migrants coming into the country? ishiellll. is unacceptable number of migrants coming into the country? well, these fiuures coming into the country? well, these fi . ures are coming into the country? well, these figures are around _ coming into the country? well, these figures are around three _ coming into the country? we

let's start with news from the office for national statistics. 5,000. some conservative mps have called for the government to take action immediately. one of them, danny kruger, says the party is failing to deliver on its pledge to lower net migration. live now to dr ben brindle, researcher at the migration observatory.

that's according to the office for national statistics . office for national statistics. of course, we'll have more analysis on that with beth and mark in just a moment. and that's all from me for now. those are the headlines. of course, you can get more on all of those stories. just visit our website, gbnews.com. back now to beth and . mark beth and. mark >> very good morning. it is 934. this is britain's newsroom this morning with me bev turner and mark dolan. we're going to be deconstructing those immigration figures which have just landed, 670,000 in a year. but first of all, before that, a sad story. overnight, two migrants have died attempting to cross the channelin died attempting to cross the channel in a small boat. yesterday while 60 asylum seekers were crammed onto this boat. >> 57 others were rescued by boat and taken back to france. and another was airlifted to safety. let's go now to ray addison, who is in dover. >> ray , what more details do we >> ray, what more details do we know and what's the very latest down there ? down there? >> yeah, good morning to

office of national statistics. live now to jay lindop, director of migration statistics, at the office for national statistics.nk you very much a being with us. what do the numbers show? figs thank you very much a being with us. what do the numbers show?- what do the numbers show? as you sa , the what do the numbers show? as you say. the latest _ what do the numbers show? as you say, the latest figures _ what do the numbers show? as you say, the latest figures for _ what do the numbers show? as you say, the latest figures forjune - what do the numbers show? as you say, the latest figures forjune 23, l say, the latest figures forjune 23, r 672,000, the highest levels we have seen recently. so those numbers have seen recently. so those numbers have gone up since last year, june 2022, but they are actually lower than the december 22 estimate. it's really important to understand the context of the numbers. before the pandemic, migration patterns were relatively stable, we saw a lot more people coming from the eu. whereas since the pandemic we have seen behaviour changing, more people coming from a non—eu to study,

the office for national statistics mix recorded a record breaking figure of 606,000 for net migration2. but the reality is worse . 2022. but the reality is worse. the 2022 figure has been revised upwards to an even more unsustainable 745,000. that's an addition of 139,000 people that the government hasn't accounted for. the home secretary today suggested that he remains completely committed to reducing levels of legal migration , as levels of legal migration, as figures from the ons show that in two years, over 1.4 million people have entered the country. net with today's provisional figure for 2023, even higher than the provisional figure for 2022, these statistics suggest that the population of england and wales is growing at its fastest rate since 1962, according to yougov, british people believe that immigration is one of the top three most important issues facing this country, and it has profound economic and social consequences . economically, gdp per capita, thatis . economically, gdp per capita, that is the amount on average we individually contribute is falling this year and

in fact, so rapidly is it heading north that the government has had to admit via the office for national statisticstoday say that last year's number that they confirmed six months ago was 606,000 net. it was not. no, they got it wrong by 20. actually it was 745,000 net. but the gross number, people coming in was about 1.25, 1.3 million people. that's about the size of birmingham . so just bear that birmingham. so just bear that image in mind. so that was 2022. and we were told at the time that it was an exception all yeah that it was an exception all year. don't worry about it . year. don't worry about it. things will start to come down. well it turns out it wasn't exception . here we are, the 12 exception. here we are, the 12 months to june 23rd and actually the number is just under 700,000. so it wasn't exceptional. this seems to be the norm now. so that promise of david cameron's of tens of thousands is i mean, we're rapidly heading towards based on that graph, we're heading closer to a million net now within that graph, within those numbers , graph, within those numbers, there's something extra

in fact, so rapidly is it heading north that the government has had to admit via the office for national statisticstoday say that last year's number that they confirmed six months ago was 606,000 net. it was not. no, they got it wrong by 20. actually it was 745,000 net. but the gross number, people coming in was about 1.25, 1.3 million people. that's about the size of birmingham . so just bear that birmingham. so just bear that image in mind. so that was 2022. and we were told at the time that it was an exception all yeah that it was an exception all year. don't worry about it . year. don't worry about it. things will start to come down. well it turns out it wasn't exception . here we are, the 12 exception. here we are, the 12 months to june 23rd and actually the number is just under 700,000. so it wasn't exceptional. this seems to be the norm now. so that promise of david cameron's of tens of thousands is i mean, we're rapidly heading towards based on that graph, we're heading closer to a million net now within that graph, within those numbers , graph, within those numbers, there's something extra

the office for national statistics says retail sales volumes dipped 03% last month. a rise. retailers blame the cost of living reduced footfall and wet weather. the sir keir starmer will pledge to make britain a clean energy superpower . that labour leaders superpower. that labour leaders in aberdeen, where he'll tell industry bosses he'll support up to 50,000 jobs in scotland if his party wins the next election . his visit comes at the end of a challenging week, suffering a major rebellion over his position on the war in gaza. gb news understands there's concern within the party of a growing rift between sir keir and the scottish labour leader anas sarwar. msps look likely to back an amendment in holyrood next week calling for a ceasefire . week calling for a ceasefire. £83 billion has been promised to fix what the prime minister has described as the scourge of potholes . the funding for road potholes. the funding for road maintenance in england will be available to local authorities over the next decade. the money was saved by scrapping the hs2 rail line north of b

net migration hit a record figure of around 606,000 last year but the new office for national statistics the nhs in england employs over a quarter million staff overseas, migrants taking up around 90% of the workforce, a high proportion still in social care with special government schemes allowing employers to recruit from around the world to cope with sky high vacancy rates —— to cope with sky high vacancy rates “19%. for suggestions the net migration figure may be a new record and the prime minister promising to reduce immigration, the government is considering a crackdown on foreign workers who are the biggest driver of the increased. among the ideas being considered are limiting to one number of relatives healthcare workers can bring with them. raising the minimum salary required to be eligible for most work visas. and abolishing the system allowing employers to pay less than that where there are recognised shortages. the government official advisor migration have long argued the shortage occupation list needs to go but sectors like construction, hospitality, agriculture i worry that

economy flatlined between july and september, according to the latest figures from the office for national statisticshe economy especially new housebuilding and consumer spending. 0ur economics editor faisal islam reports. when construction companies are going bust, house building, like at this new development in sussex, can grind to a halt. and so can the entire economy. five minutes away at the lansing industrial park, the effects of fewer new houses have a knock—on impact at the factory for newly built kitchens. we're currently tracking at around 30% down as a general market around house build new sites, and that in turn of course is impacting our business heavily. so, certainly for us as a business it is a growth problem, not an inflation problem. so, inflation can always be tackled by different measures, and it all comes back to the market decline that we have seen across housebuilding as an industry. at yargo's cafe on—site, stability is better than a falling economy, but the owner, lucy, says pursestrings are being kept very tight. people are being very careful what they buy, they don't have l

the office for national statistics this morning published the latest figures on net migration. let's take a look at these figures. uk net migration was 672,000 in the year tojune 2023. this number is slightly higher compared to the year tojune 2022. however, it is down on updated estimates from the office of national statistics. net migration is the number of people arriving in the uk minus those who left. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticus is in westminster. take us through the numbers and political reaction. the take us through the numbers and political reaction.— take us through the numbers and political reaction. the numbers you have coming _ political reaction. the numbers you have coming from _ political reaction. the numbers you have coming from the _ political reaction. the numbers you have coming from the ons, - political reaction. the numbers you have coming from the ons, what l political reaction. the numbers you l have coming from the ons, what we have coming from the ons, what we have here is the number of people arriving, net migration, the year ending

age do not turn on the heating at all, this almost 2 million people, according to the office for national statisticsthe evening as early as possible, at 7:30, 8. i lie down, listen to the radio, for company, and to warm up under the covers. with a heating pad, it's warmer than sitting here in front of the tv. last winter, every day 45 people in england near eels died as a result of constantly being in unheated houses, in other words, from the cold. there is concern that the numbers will be higher this winter. more than 2 million pensioners in britain live below the poverty line. 45% say they don’t have enough money for basic needs basic purchases. we don’t meet with our sons as often as we would like, because without... we save on food, this soup is my lunch and dinner, i won’t eat anymore today, but i can afford to eat every day, the old young and pensioners suffer and working, this train goes no further. the chancellor of the exchequer announced new measures to combat cold, hunger and poverty; first of all, he announced that everything is fine, there is money, but there is no poverty. following a

let's start with news from the office for national statistics. figures from the office of national statistics show that net migration to the uk has hit an all—time high. the revised figure for the year to december 2022 was 745,000. some conservative mps have called for the government to take action immediately. one of them, danny kruger, says the party is failing to deliver on its pledge to lower net migration. live now to dr ben brindle, researcher at the migration observatory. i want to start at the beginning, because it's important to establish what we're talking about. can you explain the difference between legal and illegal migration? legal migration the government has a lot of power and influence or affect, doesn't it?— doesn't it? legal migration is essentially— doesn't it? legal migration is essentially government - doesn't it? legal migration is| essentially government knows doesn't it? legal migration is - essentially government knows that that person is in the country, either because they have it with valid visa, or because of some agre

that's the hopeful suggestion coming from figures just released by the ons — the office for national statistics put big pressure on household finances. now pay growth has outstripped inflation — or the rate at which prices are rising — by the most in two years. our business correspondent andy verity explains. the price of food isn't going up quite as fast as it once was, and the wages of those who make it are rising, but not quite as quickly as they were. that's changed from most of the past two years, when workers' living standards dropped, as prices rose faster than wages. since the summer, prices have slowed down and wages have crossed over, so the average worker's pay is now rising faster than prices, leaving them 1% better off than last year. this gastro pub and hotel near canterbury gave staff a 10% pay rise in the spring — one reason it had to raise its prices — but customers are feeling the pinch now, and they're not sure they can keep raising wages and prices by as much if they want to hang on to the business. the prices have now been going up monthly and we've been absorbing them for

figures from the office for national statistics were worse than had been expected, with people impacteddent marc ashdownjoins me. so, explain more about what is driving this, marc. you so, explain more about what is driving this, marc.— so, explain more about what is driving this, marc. you have to cast our mind driving this, marc. you have to cast your mind back _ driving this, marc. you have to cast your mind back to _ driving this, marc. you have to cast your mind back to february - driving this, marc. you have to cast your mind back to february 2021, l your mind back to february 2021, since retail sales volumes were quite this low. back then we were in the middle of a third national covid lockdown, so this 0.3% drop off the back of a 1.1% drop the previous month has really got retailers spooked. even halloween couldn't seem to save the day. stormy weather didn't help, nor did an uptick in the price of petrol and diesel. the hope is people are saving their pennies, looking to splash out on the run—up to christmas for those big set piece events like black friday. if we look at food sa

answer for office national statistics harthis because stions to answer for office national statisticsing census, they were writing this census, they were writing this census, they actually there they were actually there was a legal by a women's legal challenge by a women's rights the actual rights group over the actual position because as they position anyway, because as they were allowing men who self—identify as women , i.e, self—identify as women, i.e, they haven't had any kind of operation , they haven't got operation, they haven't got a legal certificate saying they've changed gender. so any man changed gender. so any any man who wants to say they were a woman, that that's the woman, that that's what the census going to allow. and census was going to allow. and so groups had to to so women's groups had to go to court to say, yeah, that's right, look, this is this is ludicrous. so office for ludicrous. so the office for national statistics got national statistics have got this many occasions . this wrong on so many occasions. >> interesting fact of >> the most interesting fact of

the figure stood at 745,000 last year, according to the office for national statistics, higher than previously. but the indications are that net migration is now slowing. in 2010, the then prime minister david cameron promised to bring it down to the tens of thousands. our home editor mark easton is here with more details. mark. the figure i think most people will be looking at and the one that will raise eyebrows is the right advised net migration figure for 2022. 745,000 more people came to the uk than left, helping push the population of england and wales up at its fastest rate since the baby boom of the early 1960s. now, the latest net migration figure for the year tojune this year is 672,000. down a bit from what we now think happened last year and it looks like net migration is maybe on a downward trajectory. who is coming? well, among the 1.2 million people who came into britain for more than 12 months, roughly 375,000 were workers and theirfamilies, one in three of whom were coming to fill vacancies in the nhs and social care system. 410,000 were students and their dependents. the home

can ijust then ask you about the work of the office for national statistics that showed disproportionate be a similar answer, can i ask you why when it was recognised by that time, orabout why when it was recognised by that time, or about that time that sage would benefit from a wider set of expertise, there was no expertise sought regarding disabled people? i think that piece of work came out of the discussions. ian diamond was part of group. that is a report that needs to go into central government to deal w. i think this is an area where it should automatically happen in sage going forward. i5 where it should automatically happen in sage going forward.— in sage going forward. is that part ofthe in sage going forward. is that part of the question _ in sage going forward. is that part of the question of _ in sage going forward. is that part of the question of why _ in sage going forward. is that part of the question of why no - in sage going forward. is that part. of the question of why no dedicated expertise, why when this kind of data is coming out, whether you have been involved in c

latest figures from the office for national statistics show the economy stagnated with no growth at allhad expected — they were predicting the economy would shrink. here�*s our chief economics correspondent, dharshini david. it as kitchen makers like this one in a business park near worthing that we have relied on to serve up growth but the wheels of been turning more slowly as higher interest rates and prices knock house—building and finances. what house-building and finances. what ou would house-building and finances. what you would normally _ house-building and finances. what you would normally see _ house—building and finances. �*iv"isgt you would normally see every house—building and finances. liv"isgt you would normally see every year is a lot of seasonality to the business, so you get this sort of big uplift come spring and into the summer when all the house—building and all the construction kicks off, and all the construction kicks off, and this year we just haven�*t seen that. so and this year we 'ust haven't seen that, ,, ., ., and this year we 'ust haven't seen that, ., ., an

quarters of a million more people coming to live here than leaving, according to the office for national statisticsto bring net migration down to the �*tens of thousands'. mark easton has the details. the figure that i think most people will be looking at and the ones that will raise eyebrows is the revised net migration figure, as you say, for 2022. 745,000 more people came to the uk than left, and that's helping push the population of england and wales up at its fastest rate since the baby boom of the early 1960s. now, the latest net migration for the year tojune this year is 672,000, down a bit from what we now think happened last year. and it looks like net migration may be on a downward trajectory. so who's coming? well, among the 1.2 million people who came into britain for more than 12 months, roughly 375,000 were workers and theirfamilies, one in three of whom were coming to fill vacancies in the nhs and social care system. and 410,000 were students and their dependents. and interestingly, the home secretary james cleverly has described these as positive changes, testament to both our world

the latest figures from the office for national statistics also show, though, that the rate may now beernment said migration was putting unsustainable pressure on communities and that there was more work to do. labour said the figures showed a failure of asylum and of the econony. here's our home editor mark easton. the number of people in england and has increased in one year by the equivalent of the population of sheffield, and a bit more. official estimates suggest the total last year was 60.2 million, an extra 578,000 people. they bounced and bounced until they could bounce no more. that means the population is increasing at its fastest rate since the baby boom of the early �*60s, when births far outstripped deaths. now the difference between the two is negligible. the main driver today is immigration. today we got updated figures for long—term migration to the uk and the number that raised eyebrows is the revised net migration figure for 2022, a record 745,000 more people came to the uk than left, far higher than previously thought. now, the equivalent figure for the year tojune t

inflation and back them inflation was 10.7%, but new figures released this morning by the office for national statistics inflation is now 4.6%. i'm not saying thejob is done. many inflation is now 4.6%. i'm not saying the job is done. many people have struggled and continued to struggle. we must stay the course until inflation returns to target but it shows that when i said we would halve inflation, i meant it. when i said i would stop the boats, i meant it. today'sjudgment has not weakened my resolve, it has only hardened it and we will deliver that as well. thank you. we will take some questions from the media briefly. can i start with the bbc? thank you, chris mason, bbc news. let's cut to the quick, you gave your home secretary the heave ho on monday and the court has shredded your rwanda plan today. it's a total shambles, isn't it?— shambles, isn't it? chris, if you look at the _ shambles, isn't it? chris, if you look at the track _ shambles, isn't it? chris, if you look at the track record - shambles, isn't it? chris, if you look at the track record of - shambles, isn't it? chris, if you look at t

increase in non—eu immigration was mainly driven by migrants coming for work, says the office for national statisticsllow medical professionals to come to or stay in the uk to do an eligiblejob with the nhs, an nhs supplier or in adult social care. after free movement of workers from the eu ended in 2020, senior care workers were included in a list of roles eligible for work visa sponsorship. home office data shows there's been a 157% increase in the number of these visas issued over the last year, from more than 117,000 to more than 121,000. the government has said over and over again it wants to bring the overall numbers down, and there's now talk of ministers limiting the number of relatives health and social care workers are allowed to bring with them. mark works in a hospital in the midlands. he wouldn't go on camera over fears he'd be labelled a racist, but he sent me this whatsapp message... "they come here and they do a great job with us in the hospitals, "but they bring their entire families. "and i'm notjust talking about one person but their parents "and other family. "and our resources in

inflation numbers , consortium inflation numbers, they are generally a bit lower than office for national statisticseasons. but what we're hearing today from the big retailers through the british retailers through the british retail consortium is that that food price inflation number 4.3, may actually start going up again. why because it's saying in the autumn statement , the in the autumn statement, the government put business taxes up a lot, particularly for retailers in the form of business rates for big retailers. that's the tax on the rentable rateable value of their properties that the retailers have to pay and also we had a big increase more than a pound to over £115 an hour plus for 21 and 22 year olds, as well as 23 year olds plus in the minimum wage. and of course, retailers even though they're getting us to check out our own stuff, there's still an awful lot of people with respect on the minimum wage. the shelf stackers, the warehouse forklift truck drivers is some of the people on the tills. so an increase in the minimum wage of well over 10% is going to the retailers say increase their

revised figures published today by the office for national statistics puts net migration at 745,000 peopleiving it? well, first of all, the surge of 1.2 million migrants that were granted visas primarily from outside the eu to enter the uk to study. there has also been a surge of those escaping conflict or oppression, be it from afghanistan, hong kong, or ukraine. the new forecast forjune 2023 is above previous forecasts at 672,000, but clearly below the record high we have just reached. the important thing to say, given that brexit was supposed to have given us control of our borders, is that it is nearly three times the pre—brexit average of 200—250,000 a year.

age don't turn on the heating at all, that's almost 2 million people, according to the office for national statisticsnkets with a heating pad, it's warmer than sitting here in front of the tv, every day last winter 45 people in england and wales died as a result of constantly being in unheated houses , in other words, from the cold, there is a fear that this winter the numbers will be higher, more than 2 million pensioners in britain live below the poverty line, 45% say they do not have enough money for the most basic purchases, we don’t meet with our sons as often as we would like because gasoline is too expensive, we save on food, this soup is my lunch dinner, i won’t eat anymore today, but i can afford to eat every day, the old one suffers young, pensioners and working people, nowhere no strikes, december was declared a new month of action on the railways, or rather inaction, again this train does not go further, the chancellor of the exchequer announced new measures to combat cold, hunger and poverty, first of all, he announced that everything is fine, there is money, but poverty, no. following t

rishi sunak says measures are being taken to tackle both issues, encouraging that the office for national statisticst week did say that the numbers are already slowing, but we need to do more. >> already taken action to >> i've already taken action to tighten the number of dependents that can bring when that students can bring when they come and study we'd they come and study here. we'd seen rise in those seen a very sharp rise in those numbers and that measure that i took represents the single biggest migration that anyone's ever taken. of course , as we ever taken. of course, as we need to do more, we will look at that and whether abuses of the system, we will, of course act on because levels do on that because the levels do need are too high. >> nearly £30 billion is being invested into new projects in the uk. the prime minister has told the global investment summit there's positive momentum in the economy , particularly for in the economy, particularly for science tech and creative industries. rishi sunak says the uk's low tax approach and culture of innovation give it a competitive advantage .

revised figures published today by the office for national statistics puts net migration at 745,000 people, in the year to december 2022. quick recap net migration, that is the difference between those coming in legally and those emigrating. that figure is substantially greater than the 0ns estimate 606,000, revised upwards they said because of "unexpected migration patterns". so what's driving it? well, first of all, the surge of 1.2 million migrants that were granted visas primarily from outside the eu to enter the uk to study. there has also been a surge of those escaping conflict or oppression, be it from afghanistan, hong kong, or ukraine. the new forecast forjune 2023 is above previous forecasts at 672,000, but clearly below the record high we have just reached. the important thing to say, given that brexit was supposed to have given us control of our borders, is that it is nearly three times the pre—brexit average of 200—250,000 a year. let's speak to mikejones, who is executive director at migration watch, a british think tank which argues for lower immigration in the uk. the first

the latest set of figures — updated by the office for national statistics four days ago — puts net migrationjenrick, known to be close to suella braverman, has drawn up a set of proposals which he has shared with number 10. among his suggestions are a required minimum annual salary of £35,000 in order to receive a work visa, and scrapping the shortage 0ccupation list. however the independent public body that advises the government on migration isues, the migration advisory committee, has recommended in their latest review of the list that that care workers and senior care workers remain on it. as far is illegal migration is concerned, robertjenrick had backed suella braverman's rwanda plan, and he's made it clear that he, like her, is prepared to scrap the human rights act to get a close version of her plan off the ground, no matter it would put him on a collision course with the foreign secretary. here's nick. a palace of intrigue down the ages. a palace of power. and today, a palace to sell britain to the world. we don't have a monopoly on talent in this country. move here, was the prime m

office for pandemic. the office for national statistics says retail sales volumes dipped o.3% national statistics says retaillers have blamed the cost of living crisis and reduced footfall and the wet . reduced footfall and the wet. weather. £8.3 billion has been promised to fix what the prime minister has described as the scourge of potholes. funding scourge of potholes. the funding for road maintenance in england will be available to local authorities the next authorities over the next decade. now the money was saved by scrapping the hs2 rail line north of birmingham . british gas north of birmingham. british gas is hiring hundreds of new staff. the energy giant says they'll work at contact centres across the uk to help customers struggling with their bills around 700 new jobs are being created by the end of the year. rat infested bedford prison has been issued with an urgent nofice been issued with an urgent notice to improve . inspectors notice to improve. inspectors found inmates are being held in mouldy cells with broken windows for up to 23 hours a day. levels of violence against staff in the last mont

. >> it's encouraging that the office for national statistics last week did say that the numbers areready slowing, but we need do more. i've already we need to do more. i've already taken to the taken action to tighten the number of dependents that students can bring when they come and study here. we'd seem a very in those very sharp rise in those numbers. and that measure that i took represents the single biggest bring down biggest measure to bring down legal that anyone's legal migration that anyone's ever of course , as we ever taken. but of course, as we need to do more, we will look at that there are abuses need to do more, we will look at th.the there are abuses need to do more, we will look at th.the system, there are abuses need to do more, we will look at th.the system, th> nearly £30 b

the office for national statistics mix recorded a record breaking figure of 606,000 for net migration022. but the reality is worse . 2022. but the reality is worse. the 2022 figure has been revised upwards to an even more unsustainable 745,000. that's an addition of 139,000 people that the government hasn't accounted for. the home secretary today suggested that he remains completely committed to reducing levels of legal migration , as levels of legal migration, as figures from the ons show that in two years, over 1.4 million people have entered the country. net with today's provisional figure for 2023, even higher than the provisional figure for 2022, these statistics suggest that the population of england and wales is growing at its fastest rate since 1962, according to yougov, british people believe that immigration is one of the top three most important issues facing this country, and it has profound economic and social consequences . economically, gdp per capita, thatis . economically, gdp per capita, that is the amount on average we individually contribute is falling this year an

the office for national statistics says retail sales volumes dipped 03% last month.l and wet weather. sir keir starmer has pledged to make britain a clean energy superpower. the labour leaders in aberdeen, where he's told industry bosses he'll support up to 50,000 jobs in scotland if his party wins the next election. his visit comes at the end of a challenging week, suffering a major rebellion over his position on the war in gaza. gb news understands there's concern within the party of a growing rift between sir keir and the scottish labour leader anas sarwar msps, looking likely to back an amendment in holyrood next week, calling for a ceasefire. but the labour leader says his party is united on the issue. alleviate the suffering and a two state solution and making sure we get there. >> there is complete unity in the labour party . hostages are the labour party. hostages are being held as we have this conversation, as people are dying in gaza, as we have this conversation . and i'm sure you conversation. and i'm sure you will understand that my focus is on how we al

rishi sunak says measures are being taken to tackle both issues is encouraging that the office for national statistics did say the numbers are did say that the numbers are already slowing, but need to already slowing, but we need to do i've already taken action to >> i've already taken action to tighten the number of dependents that students bring when that students can bring when they come and study we've they come and study here. we've seen sharp rise in those seen a very sharp rise in those numbers and measure that i numbers and that measure that i took the single took represents the single biggest measure to bring down legal migration that anyone's biggest measure to bring down legaltaken. tion that anyone's biggest measure to bring down legaltaken. but that anyone's biggest measure to bring down legaltaken. but ofat anyone's biggest measure to bring down legaltaken. but of course,1e's biggest measure to bring down legaltaken. but of course, as; biggest measure to bring down legaltaken. but of course, as we ever taken. but of course, as we need to do more, we will look at that and whether abuses o

figures from the office for national statistics found average wages , statistics found average wages,earlier in the three months to september. that's down from the revised 7.9% level registered last month . and you can get more on all those stories by visiting our website , gbnews.com . for website, gb news.com. for stunning website, gbnews.com. for stunning gold and silver coins. >> you'll always value. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report. gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . at news financial report. at >> and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2303 and ,1.1475. the price of gold is £1,583.07 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7401 points. rose and gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report sunday mornings from 930 on gb news is . 1039 with britain's news is. 1039 with britain's newsroom on gb news with andrew pierce and bev turner. >> so weather warnings are in place across parts of the uk after storm. debby wreaked havoc across england yesterday . across england yesterday. >> we've had heavy rain and

the ons , the office for national ons, the office for national statistics, said in its numbers this morninge over two years. so why is inflation come down? certainly not because of food prices. food prices, inflation is still very, very high. it's come down, eamonn and isabel, because petrol and diesel prices have come down compared to october last year. and above all, electricity prices have come down. they are 15% down on october last year and household gas prices are 30, down from october last. >> with those reductions in energy bills and all the rest of it, fuel, fuel prices. is it too much to hope that food inflation might follow suit? there might be a bit of a time lag before that be passed on. that can be passed on. >> there is a time lag in food price inflation. why? because to grow you need fuel, you grow food, you need fuel, you need need need fertiliser, you need finance. three f's of finance. the three f's of farming all those things farming and all those things were expensive this time were really expensive this time last course , last year. and of course, there's a because you

you'll be familiar familiar with that 745,000 figure that was released by the office for national statisticshat was covering legal migration to the end of december 2022. is immigration good for the economy or not? i think you've got to it's got to be an immigration that works for the uk . that works for the uk. >> and that's why personally, i've always found it a points based system attractive . you've based system attractive. you've got to limit the numbers and also you've got to have some control of the abilities, the quality of the people coming into your country so that you can benefit from that. i think the numbers and the people, the kind of what they bring to the table, i think needs to be examined. clearly, the numbers are way in excess of anything that we've stood for. you know, in a general election on. and we need to have more control over that. and even the prime minister himself rishi sunak everyone in the government seems to be concerned about the scale of that immigration, although the government doesn't seem to be a nest of singing birds. >> we've had some conflict between ro

you'll be familiar familiar with that 745,000 figure that was released by the office for national statisticsek that was covering legal migration to the end of december 2022. is immigration good for the economy or not? i think you've got to it's got to be an immigration that works for the uk . that works for the uk. >> and that's why personally, i've always found it a points based system attractive . you've based system attractive. you've got to limit the numbers and also you've got to have some control of the abilities, the quality of the people coming into your country so that you can benefit from that. i think the numbers and the people, the kind of what they bring to the table, i think needs to be examined. clearly, the numbers are way in excess of anything that we've stood for. you know, in a general election on. and we need to have more control over that. and even the prime minister himself rishi sunak everyone in the government seems to be concerned about the scale of that immigration, although the government doesn't seem to be a nest of singing birds. >> we've had some conflict betwee

to the uk and the economy failed to grow between july and september, the office for national statisticsany analysts had been predicting a 0.2% fall for the quarter. but september was stronger than expected . shadow chancellor expected. shadow chancellor rachel reeves says labour would bnng rachel reeves says labour would bring back stability to the uk economy . chancellor jeremy hunt economy. chancellor jeremy hunt says economy. chancellorjeremy hunt says reducing inflation is the best way to grow it. >> this economy is much more resilient than many people predicted and of course there's an impact as we bring down inflation, as we start to win that battle against inflation, we will be taking measures to unlock the long term potential of the economy with measures to help people get back to work to reform the planning system, to support our manufacture errors. and when that in the next and when we do that in the next couple of weeks, you will see an autumn growth . autumn statement for growth. >> this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on your digital radio and now on your smart

. >> encouraging that the office for national statistics last week did say that the numbers are already slowing, but we need to do more . i've already taken to do more. i've already taken action to tighten the number of dependents that students can bnng dependents that students can bring when they come and study here. we'd seen very sharp here. we'd seen a very sharp rise numbers , and that rise in those numbers, and that measure that i took represents the single biggest measure to bnng the single biggest measure to bring legal migration that bring down legal migration that anyone's taken. but of anyone's ever taken. but of course, as need to do more, course, as we need to do more, we will look at that and whether abuses system, will, abuses of the system, we will, of course act on that because the need to down. the levels do need to come down. they too high. they are too high. >> rishi sunak now, as you've been hearing, a two day extension the truce between extension to the truce between israel hamas terror israel and the hamas terror group been welcomed the group has been welcomed by

that's according to the latest figures from the office for national statistics . s former prime minister liz truss outlines her growth commission today, providing an alternative budget , providing an alternative budget, including reforms to corporation tax , income tax and national tax, income tax and national spending . joining tax, income tax and national spending .joining us now tax, income tax and national spending . joining us now to talk spending. joining us now to talk about all this is liam halligan, gb news economics and business editor with on the money . hi, editor with on the money. hi, liam. so liz truss's alternative budget is it likely to be widely listened to? >> it will certainly be very closely scrutinised in westminster because liz truss is at the heart of a group of now 60 odd tory mps. at the heart of a group of now 60 odd tory mps . the pro growth 60 odd tory mps. the pro growth and enterprise group. they are it's an informal group, but they're saying that unless jeremy hunt in his autumn statement out next week , avoids statement out next wee

justice with crime to a record crime down, down to a record low, to the office for low, according to the office for national statisticsey are telling us government, that advantage. they they are telling us prime government, that advantage. they they are telling us prime ministerlment, that advantage. they they are telling us prime minister sayst, that advantage. they they are telling us prime minister sayst, this the prime minister says in his foreword king's how foreword to king's speech how they're clear they're trying to make clear that they're making for that they're making choices for the long they do see keir the long term. they do see keir starmer as a labour leader who will move with the public and pubuc will move with the public and public opinion doesn't believe will move with the public and pu much jinion doesn't believe will move with the public and pumuch .nion doesn't believe will move with the public and pu much . he1 doesn't believe will move with the public and pumuch . he would1't believe will move with the public and pumuch . he would of believe will move with the public and pumuch . he would of cou

and now the office for national statistics has confirmed that in october it fell to 4.6. done, but it does mean that we have met our commitment to halve inflation. our prices are no longer rising so quickly. energy bills have fallen significantly and for many wages are now rising faster than prices is. and it shows something else that when we make a major economic commitment, we will deliver it. it would have been far easier to give in to the strikes with inflationary pay the strikes with inflationary pay rises or any number of calls for higher spending or borrowing . but we held firm and with inflation halved , we can now inflation halved, we can now look forward towards the future economy that we want. >> well, that's the prime minister. he's doing his to best enuven minister. he's doing his to best enliven our panel who are here, matthew laza, who used to work for the labour leader ed miliband, and emma woolf emma woolf is here, of course , who woolf is here, of course, who did not work. what do you think about that? how would you rate that terms of charisma and that i

. >> the office for national statistics says public sector net borrowing stood at £149 net borrowingn last month. that's 4.4 billion last month. that's 4.4 billion more than the year before. the chancellor says that while the government has reduced inflation, more work is needed to achieve the bank of england's goal of 2. lancashire police has been criticised for its handling of the disappearance of nicola bully. a review found failings in the way personal information about ms bullies health struggles was disclosed to the press, which contributed to wild speculation . it said that speculation. it said that non—reportable background and information should have been provided to the media to help shape responsible reporting without disclosing sensitive information . dr. ian raphael, information. dr. ian raphael, who led the review , said it who led the review, said it showed the importance of the trust between media and police school holidays in wales may be shortened under proposals put forward by the government. but welsh education ministerjeremy miles says the long summer break can b

the latest unemployment figures will be published shortly by the office for national statistics and ones been looking into this for us. yes, this changes with a lot of factors at the time of one of the big things has been the pandemic. it can be the dream for many but not for all. but these days that's often easier said than done with more people in the past few years deciding to switch to salaried positions. let's take a look at the numbers. at the turn of the century in 2000 there were just over three million workers registered as self—employed. that number gradually climbed rising to a peak of five million just four years ago. but then we had the pandemic and that all changed with the number of self—employed falling. and up tojuly this year, the number of people who were self employed fell by nearly a fifth to just over four million. so why are we seeing this fall? we've been hearing from one worker who's given up the self employed dream and one who hasn't. i didn't have the financial backing, the funding or the equipment and i was only working with £192. registered the business on £

that's just under 13% of the population that the office for national statistics are saying are indeed previous years. and in fact , previous years. and in fact, it's been in steady decline since around the 1970s. but just under 13% of the population is still quite a significant chunk. so here's a little bit of what the people of manchester have been saying to me today. >> i think it's an absolutely brilliant idea. my husband has asthma and we'd never go anywhere where there's smoke , so anywhere where there's smoke, so i think it's a really good idea . i think it's a really good idea. yeah, they've done my voice anytime now. >> it's a good idea. personally i mean, my father used to smoke and i've seen the negative effects. it has on smoking and personally, i don't smoke. i don't know anyone who does smoke. but from from the things that smoking can do to you, you know, they're they're obviously the health how it affects you . i the health how it affects you. i think it's a good idea. i really am. >> i think it's a good idea to help the people to stop smoking . help the people to stop s