Half of migrants are from Poland

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions showed that 270 Polish nationals were registered.

Poles were the biggest group of non-UK nationals registering, making up 57 per cent of the total 470.

Bassetlaw registered the highest number of Poles of any district in Notts.

For the county as a whole, Polish people again made up the largest group from any one country with 940 NI number registrations.

However a report from National Insurance Recording shows that the number of NI registrations from the so-called ‘Accession 8’ countries which joined the EU in 2004 - including Poland - has fallen.

In the financial year 06/07 the number peaked at more than 2,500 but has been falling since. In the year 10/11 it had dropped to 1,840, although this was up 560 on the previous financial year.

The report says: “A NINo (NI number) is generally required by any overseas national looking to work or claim benefits/tax credits in the UK, including the self employed or students working part time.

“The figures provide a measure of in-migration but do not reflect emigration or the overall migrant population.”