To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions his Department has checked the immigration status of applicants for national insurance numbers since 2006; and how many applications were refused as a result. (166516)

Applications for national insurance numbers for employment purposes have automatically been subject to a proof of right to work check since July 2006.

Management information shows that between July 2006 and 30 November 2007 8,643 such applications were refused on the basis of not satisfying the right to work requirement. Details of these cases have been passed to the Border and Immigration Agency.