I always find these stats plain pointless. Look at two scenarios;
Situation a) If you have someone from the UK;
If the person is born in the UK, who is claiming benefits what can you do about it? Not much. Welfare reforms, but they can still recieve welfare.
Situation b) If you have someone from the outside the UK;
If the UK had not given up control of its own borders (something which would have been laughable to those who voted for the common market as they would never have agreed if they knew what the EU would become most likely) then they would be able to turn this net drain on society away.
Essentially by saying "EU migrants don't claim as much benefits" doesn't address the obvious issue that if you have a UK citizen there is no way to stop them doing so. If you have an overseas person there is a solution to the problem-don't let them in.
What I am saying is that complaining about a problem with no solution (the UK person) is pointless-why not target the issue that has an obvious solution?
The thing about this issue is that, apart from the numbers (which are huge and can have an impact on housing, the NHS, school places, etc etc) is one of principles.
The scandal in the House of Lords recently as well as the MP's expenses issues is not just about money. The money MP's claim, if spread amongst all citizens in the UK, is small per head. The same goes for the house of Lords-it is small. The same goes for the Royal Family. The cost of all of these things is small.
However, it is about principles. Why should MP's be able to claim £170 for a 0.6 mile journey? Would they do it with their own money? Not a chance.
Same thing here. Why should someone be able to come to the UK, when so much of he population doesn't want them, and get a free NHS, free school place, etc etc? Because for them it is free but for the British public they have had to pay their taxes to pay for it.
To summarise, what I am saying is that 1) the issues regarding immigration have an obvious and easy solution (such as a points based system) so they are focused on more. No point complaining about what cannot change.
And 2) Even if people don't think the money is important (which it is) it is a question of principles.