European migrants give more tax than they take in welfare: UK gains £20bn

A new study has revealed that European migrants pay out far more taxes that they receive in state benefits.

15:52 05 November 2014

European migrants are not a drain on Britain’s finances; in fact, they pay out far more taxes than they receive in state benefits, a recent study has revealed. 

 

The study, which was conducted by two leading migration economists at University College added that Britain is successful in attracting highly skilled and highly educated migrants in Europe. It also said that migrants contributed £20bn to UK public finances between 2000 and 2011. 

 

Prof Christian Dustmann, co-author of the study and director of the centre, said: “A key concern of the public debate on migration is whether immigrants contribute their fair share to the tax and welfare systems. Our new analysis draws a positive picture of the overall fiscal contribution made by recent immigrant cohorts, particularly of immigrants arriving from the EU.”

 

However, the report was criticised by David Green of Civitas. “People who migrate tend to be young, better educated and energetic. They make good employees here but they are a loss to their own country. If other European countries fail to prosper because their brightest and best have travelled to the UK, we are all worse off,” he said.