Britain spends over THREE times more per person on social support and welfare than Romania and Bulgaria

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State support in Britain is more than three times more generous than in eastern European countries, a new study showed today.

The Office for National Statistics examined the value of social protection benefits - including welfare, hospital stays and free school dinners - in countries across the EU.

It found that spending per person in the UK was more than 350 per cent higher than in Romania and Bulgaria, the two newest countries to join the EU.

According to the ONS study published today, social support from the British state is in line with the likes of Iceland, Italy and just behind France, Finland and Belgium

David Cameron has demanded a ban on migrants claiming in-work benefits for four years to make the UK less attractive.

It follows record levels of net migration fuelled by rising numbers of people coming from elsewhere in the EU.

Latest figures show that the number of Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK is up 61 per cent in a year to 50,000.

According to the ONS study published today, social support from the British state is in line with the likes of Iceland, Italy and just behind France, Finland and Belgium.

But is is much more generous that poorer countries in eastern Europe.

Using a scale known as 'purchasing power standards' it compares the level of spending between countries. 

It found social protection spending in Britain in 2013 was equivalent to 7,795 PPS, compared to just 2,153 in Romania, 2,229 in Bulgaria, 2,439 in Latvia and just under 3,000 in Lithuania and Estonia.

Mr Cameron argues that the generosity of benefits in the UK is part of the reason why EU migrants are drawn to live here.

But critics have suggested there is little link. An economist from the Office for Budget Responsibility warned banning migrants from claiming benefits would have little impact on slowing immigration.

Sir Stephen Nickell told the Treasury select committee yesterday: 'Changing the benefit rules for EU migration so that they become more difficult to obtain - you are asking me what impact that is likely to have. In my opinion: not much.'

Social support spending in the UK rose by 7.4 per cent between 2007-13, ahead of Slovenia, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Greece and Hungary

The new study, 'Social Protection - European Comparisons of Expenditure, 2007 to 2013', shows that in 2013 Britain spent £483billion on social protection, equivalent to 28 per cent of GDP.

Three-quarters of the spending in the UK was on old age and sickness support. 

Between 2008 and 2013, the number of male old age beneficiaries rose 16 per cent while the number of female old age beneficiaries fell by 0.2 per cent. 

The UK spent £394 per person on the housing category of social protection - the highest level in the EU.

Government figures show that spending on Housing Benefit rose in real terms by 34.7 per cent between 2007-08 and 2013-14.

Mr Cameron's hopes of securing an agreement on EU reform were dealt a blow this week when European Council president Donald Tusk warned there is 'presently no consensus' on barring migrants from in-work benefits and social housing. 

The Prime Minister travels to Romania today in his latest push for a deal on barring access to Britain's welfare state as a way of deterring migrants from the rest of Europe.

Downing Street insists it is prioritising the four-year ban, and in the absence of alternatives from other countries will remain central to demands for renegotiating Britain's membership of the EU.

David Cameron is challenging other European leaders to come up with alternatives to his plan to ban benefits for migrants for four years as the price of keeping Britain in the EU

Mr Cameron's hopes of securing an agreement were dealt a blow this week when European Council president Donald Tusk warned there is 'presently no consensus' on barring migrants from in-work benefits and social housing.

Mr Tusk said that EU leaders would need to 'hear more' from Mr Cameron before deciding how to proceed with the Prime Minister's plans on migration.

He warned EU leaders will have to overcome 'substantial political differences' to reach agreement on the issues of social benefits and free movement for EU citizens.

But Mr Cameron heads to eastern Europe today adamant that it remains a key demand.

'It is what we want to see,' said a Number 10 source. 'We considered other things - an emergency brake on numbers coming here, and so on - but the four-year ban we think is the right policy.

'It is why the Prime Minister included it in his demands to Tusk and it is still the only idea on the table.'

Some 336,000 more people arrived in the UK than left in the last year, more than treble the Prime Minister's target of cutting net migration to under 100,000

However, it emerged today that Brussels is working on a so-called 'Plan B' which could limit immigration if public services become overwhelmed.

The Financial Times reported a 'migration safety valve' would allow limits on EU free movement rules on the grounds of public security, public policy or public health.

Mr Cameron missed Prime Minister's Questions today to travel to eastern Europe for two days of talks with leaders in Romania and Poland.

He will make the case that reducing the appeal of moving to Britain will allow countries to retain more of their young people. 

In Romania, Mr Cameron will hold talks with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and President Klaus Iohannis before travelling to Warsaw for a working dinner with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo.

Tomorrow he will hold talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the latest leg of his EU charm offensive.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has claimed almost all European leaders privately back Britain's push to end migrants 'popping' between countries in search of higher benefits.