Information is not available prior to April 2002. The available information is in the following table.
Month of registration All EU Non-EU 6 to 30 April 2002 17,670 5,130 12,540 May 2002 19,220 5,080 14,140 June 2002 16,840 4,150 12,690 July 2002 27,410 6,780 20,630 August 2002 31,160 8,080 23,080 September 2002 35,870 9,020 26,860 October 2002 30,760 7,860 22,900 November 2002 32,500 8,830 23,670 December 2002 27,300 7,630 19,670 January 2003 37,640 10,050 27,590 February 2003 35,560 9,960 25,600 March 2003 31,380 8,510 22,880 1 to 5 April 2003 5,930 1,640 4,290 6 to 30 April 2003 22,260 6,100 16,160 May 2003 21,030 5,830 15,200 June 2003 26,360 7,070 19,290 July 2003 33,720 8,690 25,030 August 2003 26,100 7,150 18,950 September 2003 34,910 8,910 26,000 October 2003 29,390 7,960 21,430 November 2003 31,200 9,730 21,470 December 2003 26,720 8,300 18,430 January 2004 33,000 9,890 23,110 February 2004 32,060 9,370 22,690 March 2004 50,880 15,280 35,600 1 to 5 April 2004 3,120 970 2,150 6 to 30 April 2004 24,540 7,510 17,030 May 2004 29,570 8,650 20,920 June 2004 35,620 12,040 23,580 July 2004 34,970 13,380 21,590 August 2004 26,120 10,830 15,290 September 2004 33,330 14,740 18,600 October 2004 34,810 15,470 19,330 November 2004 41,540 19,330 22,210 December 2004 33,240 16,800 16,450 January 2005 29,050 13,490 15,560 February 2005 42,820 21,170 21,650 March 2005 66,560 35,010 31,550 1 to 5 April 2005 7,570 3,940 3,630 6 to 30 April 2005 37,260 19,540 17,710 May 2005 41,030 21,520 19,510 June 2005 64,150 34,360 29,800 July 2005 53,740 28,250 25,490 August 2005 51,570 28,320 23,250 September 2005 66,130 37,240 28,890 October 2005 52,740 29,590 23,150 November 2005 59,790 32,830 26,950 December 2005 46,350 26,960 19,390 January 2006 70,890 40,780 30,120 February 2006 48,190 28,370 19,830 March 2006 63,740 37,140 26,600 1 to 5 April 2006 6,810 3,740 3,070 Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. April figures are shown as part months because the data cover financial years. Source: 100 per cent sample at 17 June 2006 from the national insurance recording system (NIRS).
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer I gave him on 24 July 2006, Official Report, column 891W.
The Department is committed to ensuring that national insurance numbers (NINOs) are issued, used and controlled correctly. We will continue to develop and implement strategies and processes to enable us to achieve this commitment.
In April 2001, we introduced the Secure NINO allocation process which guards against identity fraud. This process ensures a consistent robust approach to NINO allocation for both benefit and employment-related applications for a NINO. It includes face-to-face interviews to build up a picture of an individual's circumstances. Document examination checks are applied to ensure the authenticity of any documentary evidence provided in support of the application; and there are corroborative checks with third parties to verify information supplied during the interview. Only when we are satisfied as to the individual's identity will a NINO be allocated.
From July 2006 a right to work pre-condition for all employment-related NINO applications was introduced. This prevents anyone who does not have the right to work from being allocated a NINO for employment purposes.
When a person applies for a national insurance number (NINO), full identity checks are carried out at a face-to-face interview. If there is any suspicion around the validity of the identity documents, they are referred to the National Identity Fraud Unit (NIFU).
If NIFU are advised of a NINO being used by another person, the account is flagged as having a NIFU interest. If there is any benefit activity on that account, action is taken immediately to investigate suspected fraud.
The available information is in the following tables.
Number of cases 2001 586 2002 447 2003 303 2004 513 2005 497 2006 534
Number of cases 2001 2,539 2002 2,418 2003 2,533 2004 1,896 2005 1,991 2006 1,984 Source: Departmental Central Index frontline services