Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to protect National Insurance numbers from repeated (a) misuse and (b) fraud.

A National Insurance Number (NINo) is a unique reference number used to administer the Benefits and National Insurance systems. It is not proof of identity and cannot be used on its own to access HMRC records or systems.

HMRC regularly urges customers to be alert to scams requesting personal information, including their NINo.