To ask Her Majesty's Government why data on allocation of National Insurance numbers were removed from the UK Border Agency's quarterly Bulgarian and Romanian accession statistics; and where they are now. [HL5095]

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many National Insurance numbers have been allocated to (a) Bulgarians, and (b) Romanians, since those countries’ accessions to the European Union. [HL5096]

A new quarterly National Statistics series on “National Insurance Number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK”, including Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, was published by the Department for Work and Pensions from August 2008.

These National Statistics replaced the previously published management information on National Insurance Numbers allocated to accession nationals which were removed from the UK Border Agency report on Bulgarian and Romanian Accession Statistics from August 2008.

Quarterly National Statistics on National Insurance Number Allocations to all adult overseas nationals entering the UK are available via the DWP website: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp.

Information on the number of National Insurance Numbers that have been allocated to (a) Bulgarians, and (b) Romanians, since those countries’ accessions to the European Union, is in the table below.

Notes:

1. Definitions and conventions: Figures are rounded to the nearest ten and displayed in thousands. Some additional disclosure control has been applied.

2. Registration date is derived from the date at which a National Insurance Number is maintained on the National Insurance Recording System.

3. Bulgaria and Romania both gained entry to the European Union in January 2007.

4. This information is available on the DWP website at http://research.dwp.gov.ukiasd/

Source:

1. 100% extract from National Insurance Recording System.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Romanian and Bulgarian nationals who are self-employed in the United Kingdom have registered their business activity with HM Revenue and Customs in (a) Northern Ireland, and (b) Great Britain, since Romania's and Bulgaria's accessions to the European Union. [HL5097]

The number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals who registered with HM Revenue & Customs as self-employed in the period 1 January 2007 to 30 June 2009 inclusive, where their address is recorded as being in Northern Ireland or Great Britain, is shown in the table below.

The figures are estimates based on a sample scan of HM Revenue & Customs’ National Insurance Recording System.