FOI REF: FOI-2024-1865
You asked
How many British people have permanently migrated to Israel between October of 2023 and February of 2024?
We said
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request concerning statistics on international migration.
We produce international migration estimates at EU and non-EU level. Our latest international migration estimates cover the period up to the end of June 2023.
Net migration estimates for EU and non-EU nationals for the year ending December 2023 will be available in our next publication, which is estimated for release in May 2024.
Estimates covering the period ending June 2024 are expected to be published in November 2024.
As such, information for 2021 is exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
The Home Office produce quarterly statistics on this topic, which may help. Please see their contact details below:
Home Office
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
FOI requests: foirequests@homeoffice.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7035 4848