The Office for National Statistics will explain its current methods and data sources for measuring population moves between local authorities at an online session on 30 September 2026.
The ONS posted details of the webinar on social media, inviting registrations for a session covering how internal migration statistics are produced and what improvements to future population estimates are planned. Internal migration statistics estimate moves between local authorities within England and Wales, as well as relevant flows involving Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Because there is no single formal nationwide registration system for internal moves, ONS relies on administrative data as statistical proxies. The figures show that two main sources currently underpin the estimates: NHS Personal Demographics Service data, which identifies changes in people’s recorded area of residence, and Higher Education Statistics Agency data, which helps measure student moves to university. A separate Higher Education Leavers Methodology is also used to improve estimates of people moving on after finishing their degrees — a group that can be difficult to track through NHS address records alone.
The webinar follows ONS’s August 2026 quarterly update, which confirmed the 30 September date. No specific new legislation or policy announcement is the subject of the session.
NHS address records are a proxy, not a direct measure. That means any move not promptly reflected in a patient’s GP registration may not be captured immediately or uniformly in the estimates.
Key information
- Webinar date: 30 September 2026, online
- Registration: details and sign-up link posted by ONS on social media — the link was not independently verified from available sources
- Topics covered: current methods and data sources for internal migration statistics; ONS plans to improve future population estimates
Source: @ONS