Now 600,000 illegals are given National Insurance numbers in Labour blunder
HUNDREDS of thousands of illegal immigrants have been given National Insurance numbers – enabling them to get jobs and rip off benefits, it emerged last night.
More than 600,000 border cheats may have been registered into Britain’s welfare system by the blundering Department of Work and Pensions.
And more than 6,600 illegal immigrants working in the security industry were found to have used National Insurance numbers on their job applications that were almost certainly valid.
The figures came as another blow to Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain, already under fire over his failure to declare political donations.
The statistics fuelled allegations that Labour has lost control of Britain’s borders.
Among the suspected illegals given National Insurance numbers were more than 30,000 Nigerians, 20,000 Ghanaians, 13,000 Brazilians and 4,000 Albanians.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling said: “It looks pretty clear that Peter Hain is no more in control of his department than he was of his deputy leadership campaign finances.
“He’s been trying to avoid answering questions about this for two months – now we know why. This is an utterly shambolic situation.
“After the fiasco over the overall figures for migrant workers last autumn, it’s now quite clear the Government’s management of our system of migrant workers has collapsed into chaos.”
The mess surrounding National Insurance numbers was uncovered by a Channel 4 News investigation last night.
Parliamentary figures showed a massive gap between the amount of numbers issued to people from outside the EU and work permits distributed.
Between January 2004 and April 2007, 896,170 NI numbers were issued to citizens from outside the EU.
But only 270,700 work permits were given out.
The discrepancy leaves 625,470 foreign nationals with NI numbers despite not apparently having the right to work here.
The numbers are needed for getting a job, claiming benefit or using the NHS. Officials are supposed to carry out checks on anyone applying for one.
Last month, 6,653 illegal immigrants were found to be working in the security industry – some were even at the Home Office.
The Security Industry Authority told Channel 4 News that all 6,653 illegals had filled in the mandatory requirements on their application forms – and the NI numbers appeared to be valid.
National Insurance numbers can be issued by Job Centres. They can also help illegal immigrants claim the state pension.
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: “There needs to be immediate action taken to stop the issuing of National Insurance numbers to those who are here illegally.
“It is not acceptable – especially as this was first seen to be a problem way back in 2006.”
A Department of Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We are working closely with the Home Office, SIA, and HMRC to check whether National Insurance numbers were obtained by individuals without permission to work in the UK.
Since November 2006 the proof of right to work is required before National Insurance numbers can be issued.
“However, in addition, the law requires employers to check that someone has the right to work before employing them and a National Insurance number, genuine or otherwise, has never constituted such proof.”
He added that NI numbers and work permits do not tally because there are ways to get into the country other than with a work permit, such as a student visa.
