Written question asked by Lord Laird (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 2009.

Migrant Workers: Romania and Bulgaria

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (a) Romanian, and (b) Bulgarian, nationals have registered as workers and entered the United Kingdom in each year since the accession of those countries to the European Union; how many of their family members have entered the United Kingdom; and how many are claiming social security benefits.

Answer: Information relating to the number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals who have registered as workers is published in the Bulgarian and Romanian Accession Statistics which are published quarterly and are available in the Libraries of the House. Information on the number of family members who have entered in the UK is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. The Department for Work and Pensions has advised that information on the number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals in receipt of social security benefits is not available.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4176; 711 c231WA
Session: 2008-09
Subjects: Bulgaria Families Immigration Recipients Migrant workers Social security benefits Romania
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk