Migration scam costing YOU £2bn

MIGRATION scammers who are fleecing Britain’s tax and benefits system are costing the country £2billion a year.

 9million is owed to the NHS from foreigners £9million is owed to the NHS from foreigners

Fraudsters are claiming they officially live abroad to avoid paying income and council tax while others, who have left, are still cashing in on benefits from overseas.

A further £9million is owed to the NHS from foreigners who have been given medical treatment while in the UK but left without paying the bill.

The Government is now considering drawing up effective “no fly” lists to stop certain passengers leaving by air or sea if they have outstanding fines or health bills.

Lists are also planned for “disruptive” passengers, such as those who have been drunk or abusive on trips in the past.

The startling figures were revealed by the Home Office as part of its plan for stricter border controls, although officials admitted they were unsure exactly what impact the new technology could have in combating the mass fraud.

This is yet another way in which the Government’s failure to control our borders or even monitor them is hugely expensive to the taxpayer.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK

Critics last night laid the blame for the huge hole in public funds firmly at the door of the Government.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said: “This is yet another way in which the Government’s failure to control our borders or even monitor them is hugely expensive to the taxpayer.”

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: “The Government’s open-door approach to immigration has failed to take into account the enormous impact, pressure and costs to the UK.

“This latest assessment shows this includes £2billion  lost each year in income and benefit fraud. The Government must answer our calls for an annual limit on the numbers allowed to come here to work from outside the EU enforced by a properly constituted force with the powers they need to police our porous borders”.

The figures emerged in an assessment of the benefits of a planned £1.2billion extension of the so-called e-borders programme and will mean intensive screening of every passenger heading into or out of the UK.

The Home Office document highlighted two types of tax and benefits fraud through migration scams. One was “falsely claiming non-domicile or non-resident status to avoid UK income tax”.

That sees either foreigners in the UK claiming they are still officially based back home to avoid paying income or council tax, or Britons claiming they are no longer resident in the UK for similar evasion.

The second scam is claiming “non-exportable social security benefits despite having left the country”. Again these are migrants, either foreign or British, who have since left the UK but continue to claim benefits which they should not.

Corin Taylor, a spokesman for the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The sheer scale of this fraud is astonishing. Once again honest taxpayers are footing the bill for the failure of politicians to simplify the tax and benefits system.

“The Home Office needs to get a grip on the problem before it loses all credibility.”

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