You asked
Please could you release the quarterly totals of migration, which (almost) correspond to the Long Term International Migration (LTIM) figures.
We said
Thank you for your request about quarterly migration statistics.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with the information that you have requested.
We acknowledge the growing demand for quarterly migration statistics and as part of our Migration Statistics Transformation Programme we are assessing the quality of the International Passenger Survey (IPS), including the quarterly data, alongside administrative data sources. This includes understanding the timing and best way to publish quarterly migration statistics taking into account our quality assessment of this data.
The user requested dataset that you refer to in your request was published in response to an ad-hoc request. Subsequently we have made the need to assess the quality of the IPS a priority within the Migration Statistics Transformation Programme.
It is still our ambition to meet the need for quarterly migration statistics once we have made our final assessment following the completion of the Migration Statistics Transformation Programme.
As this data is intended for future publication s.22(1) of FOIA applies whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. This exemption is subject to a public interest test. Whilst we recognise the desirability of information being freely available, we also acknowledge that public authorities must have the freedom to be able to determine their own publication timetables. This allows them to deal with the necessary preparation, administration, and context of publication. Furthermore, public interest is best served through the public having confidence that the information published by us is accurate and final. Release on an ad-hoc basis would not achieve this aim and will cause unnecessary confusion if they were to be misrepresented. In this case, exempting the information clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us on pop.info@ons.gov.uk.