The latest migration statistics show the effect Conservative reforms are having on net migration to the UK.
Net migration for the year ending June 2012 was 163,000, down from 247,000 in 2011, a fall of 84,000.
Student visas issued were down by 20% compared to 2011, although there was a 3% increase in sponsored visa applications for the university sector and a 3% increase in visas issued for skilled individuals under Tier 2. Family visas are down by 10%.
Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest's MP, commented: 'I welcome this encouraging news from the Minister for Immigration. We are reducing the overall numbers of net migration and, importantly, we ensure that our system still attracts the brightest individuals to the UK.
'The government is introducing certain changes to ensure that migrants to the UK are better assimilated into our society, which includes a stronger English language requirement and an enhanced test of the migrants' knowledge of British history and culture.
'I am sure this news will please many people across Wyre Forest who have expressed their concern about immigration in their letters. This is a positive sign that our reforms are working and that we are on the right track to reduce our net immigration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands by mid-2015.'