The West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership's report 'Migration Matters: Mainstreaming Migration in the West Midlands' is now available. The report captures the main points of the conference held earlier this year and the key challenges and emerging themes linked to the impact of migration in the Region.

Amongst the key recommendations in the report are some that relate specifically to data:

• WMRO and wider stakeholders to develop an agreed methodology of collecting & dealing with migration data across the range of sectors at a Regional and local level.
• Local Strategic Partnerships should lead on improving the collation, sharing, accessibility and use of migration data and best practice at a local level.
• Local Strategic Partnerships should commission work to improve their understanding of their migrant communities, in particular identifying the impact of the current economic downturn.

The ONS has announced its planned improvements to its mid-year estimates of population, based on better migration data and improved modelling techniques. The improved estimates are to be made available in May 2010, when the 2008 mid-year estimate (and previous estimates back to 2002) will be revised using the new sources and methods. This means that the revised estimates will be produced in time to inform CLG's and DH's next round of finance settlements in 2010.

You can read a full briefing on the proposed changes here

ONS population estimates show that Sandwell's population has fallen by 100 since 2007, to a total of 287,500.

Estimates of five year age groups by sex are available here. Estimates for single years of age are also available.

The Office for National Statistics published 2006 based sub-national population projections on 12th June 2008. They cover the period 2006-2031. They give an indication of the future trends in population over the next 25 years. They are trend based projections, which means assumptions for future levels of births, deaths and migration are based on observed levels mainly over the previous five years. They show what the population will be if recent trends in these continue. The 2006 based projections show a much greater increase in Sandwell's population than the previous 2004 based projections. They indicate that the population will increase between 2006 and 2031 by 35,600, an increase of 12.4%. Sandwell is also projected to experience a considerable ageing of the population. The population aged 60 and over is expected to increase by 18,600 (+30.9%) between 2006 and 2031. The greatest increase within this category are expected to be those aged 85+ (+4,600, +80.7%). The only age group showing a decrease is the 35-39 age group.