The benefits of EU citizens
Dear Editor,
At the same time as the recent report from the Migration Advisory Committee outlined the impact of immigration on the UK, an assessment highlighted the value of EU citizens to the British economy.
It noted that when it comes to the public finances, European migrants contribute substantially more than they cost – easing the tax burden on other taxpayers.
Taxes will, therefore, have to rise if Brexit brings strict curbs on EU workers, because they pay far more to the public purse than British-born residents and also those from outwith the EU.
Migrants from the EU contribute £2,300 more to the Exchequer each year in net terms than the average adult.
Over their lifetimes, they pay in £78,000 more than they take out in public services and benefits – while the average UK citizen’s net lifetime contribution is zero.
Non-European migrants will make a positive net contribution of £28,000 to £50,000. This is because most EU migrants arrive fully educated and many leave before the costs of retirement start to weigh on public finances.
In total, the net benefit from the class of 2016 was expected to be £26.9 billion, with £19.3bn coming from EU migrants.
The remaining £7.5bn is from migrants from the rest of the world.
It is all well and good wanting to curb immigration from the EU but people living in the UK must be made aware of the clear impact this will have on the British economy. Alex Orr, via email