HABITUAL RESIDENCY AND BENEFITS

That this House supports proposals to ensure that economic migration is not encouraged by the benefits system; notes that it takes 12 months to obtain habitual residency in Spain and sees no reason why the UK should allow habitual residency after three months; further notes that there are abuses of the rules relating to self-employment whereby migrants are selling The Big Issue to qualify for tax credits and housing benefit; further notes that this operates to squeeze out the homeless and other traditional sellers of The Big Issue; and calls for the Government to review this loophole to prevent it being used to encourage migration whilst undermining the social support system, and to consider applying rules relating to habitual residency for in-work benefits.