EU immigrants pay their way

Polish, Czech and other immigrants to the UK from the 10 countries that joined the European Union in 2004 have contributed more in taxes than they receive in benefits and services from the welfare state, according to new research. The arrival in the UK workforce of more than 500,000 immigrants from the eight accession countries prompted the standard concerns that they may take out more than they put in, said Christian Dustmann, professor of economics at University College London, which carried out the study. But a study of those who have been in the country for at least a year - and who are therefore eligible to claim benefits - shows that they have more than paid their way. The EU immigrants are 60 per cent less likely than natives to receive state benefits or tax credits and 58 per cent less likely to live in social housing.