Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people from other EU countries were in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit and (b) in-work benefits in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what the cost to the public purse was of such payments in that period.

The nationality and immigration status of claimants is not currently recorded on benefit payment systems. However the Department for Work and Pensions has published some general statistics on working age benefit recipients claiming within 6 months of National Insurance Number (NINO) registration. The information requested can be found in the following report:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/nationality-at-point-of-nino-registration-of-dwp-working-age-benefit-recipients-data-to-feb-2016

Information on expenditure on DWP and HMRC benefits received by EEA nationals can be found in the following reports:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/502129/benefit-expenditure-eea-nationals-ad-hoc-stats.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/548156/HMRC_-_Ad_Hoc_Stats_Release_-further_TC_statistics_on_EEA_Nationals_JULY_-_FINAL_23rd_August_2016.pdf