UK Borders Bill

Before the noble Lord, Lord Judd, finishes, the Minister has told us that normally a national insurance certificate would cover a person’s entitlement to work. If a person who has previously been in employment and is transferring to another job can satisfy the employer that he has a national insurance number, that should be equally valid, whatever his racial or national origin. The existence of a national insurance number should prevent the employer demanding any other proof of his legal presence in the UK. I take it that it is only when a person goes to his first job in the UK, for example, having graduated from a university or left school, that he may not necessarily have a national insurance number. It is in those cases only that any doubt would arise as to his legitimacy as a person of residence in the UK and able to take employment. Perhaps the number of cases will be pretty small if the national insurance document is the primary evidence of ability to work.