European Union Migration: National Insurance

Lord Lea of Crondall Excerpts

Thursday 12th May 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

Of course, the Government have taken measures to prevent EU migrants as well having full access to benefits for four years: child benefit, for example, will no longer be sent home at UK rates. As to the NHS, it is true that some people contribute. The important thing from the NHS point of view is that, regardless of where you come from, if you are in desperate need of medical help you will get it in this country.

[Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)]

Does not the number of British people going backwards and forwards to Spain, for example—2 million plus people are in that sort of situation—also counterbalance the discrepancies that we have?

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

My Lords, obviously it is a two-way street but we are talking about net figures.