Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Thursday, 17 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 July 2008. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 September 2008 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

National Insurance: Immigrants

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2008, Official Report, column 325W, on national insurance: immigrants, how many of the 3,275 cases where the names or national insurance numbers (NINOs) given to the Security Industry Authority appeared to be false were cases in which a NINO was issued after the introduction of the right to work test in July 2006; how many of the 3,275 cased involved (a) a false name and (b) a false NINO; and what steps have been taken to prevent the issuing of NINOs on the basis of a false name since July 2006.

Answer: [holding answer 22 July 2008]: None of the national insurance numbers provided to the SIA had been issued by the Department for Work and Pensions to the 3,275 individuals concerned. In 1,873 cases the NINO provided did exist on the Department's Customer Information System (CIS) but was registered to a different name. In 1,402 cases the number did not exist on CIS at all. Where a potential criminal offence has been committed, details have been passed to the Department for Work and Pensions Fraud Investigation Service for investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution.It remains the legal responsibility of the employer to check that all their employees have the right to work in the United Kingdom. Employers have clear guidance on the documents they can accept as evidence of the right to work, and this does not include SIA licences or, in the absence of other specified documents, a national insurance number.Since 2001, the Department for Work and Pensions has had in place rigorous identity checking and verification procedures for all national insurance number applicants. In 2007-08, 759 applications were refused due to suspect documentation and led to 181 successful prosecutions. Over the same period, a further 5,114 refusals were made on the basis of the applicant failing to provide sufficient evidence of identity.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 479 c2220W; 221208
Session: 2007-08
Related items: National Insurance: Immigrants
Monday, 10 November 2008
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Subjects: Undocumented migrants National insurance
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk