Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Henley (Conservative) on Monday, 5 March 2012.

Migrant Workers: Romanians and Bulgarians

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Romanian and Bulgarian nationals have migrated to the United Kingdom since those countries acceded to the European Union; what estimates they have made of the impact on the numbers of Romanianand Bulgarian migrants to the United Kingdom of the lifting next year of all employment and social security restrictions; whether they have made any preparations for a possible large increase in annual numbers; and how many such nationals have registered for national insurance numbers since those countries acceded to the European Union.

Answer: Estimates based on the Annual Population Survey suggest that the Bulgarian and Romanian-born population resident in the United Kingdom increased from 34,000 in 2006 to 132,000 in 2010, the last year for which Annual Population Survey statistics are currently available. The number of national insurance number registrations for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals between January 2007 and September 2011 was 168,360. It would not be sensible for the Government to predict numbers of arrivals after 2013 given that other member states will also have to lift their existing restrictions at that point, but the Government will assess the possible impact on public services of any potential changes in migration levels from Bulgaria and Romania.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 16001; 735 c393-4WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Migrant Workers: Romanians and Bulgarians
Monday, 19 March 2012
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Bulgaria Immigration National insurance Romania
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk