Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many irregular migrants have been given a National Insurance Number in each year since 2020.

DWP does not issue National Insurance Numbers to irregular migrants. The department is responsible for the allocation of National Insurance Numbers to adults in the UK, and all applicants are required to provide evidence of their identity and information to prove they have the right to work in the UK. This is the only circumstance in which applicants will be granted a National Insurance number.

The information provided by applicants is corroborated against other Government Department systems before a National Insurance Number is allocated.

We publish quarterly data on the number of adult overseas nationals entering the UK that have received a National Insurance number, please see the link below for more information.

National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK - GOV.UK