HC Deb 25 February 1957 vol 565 cc849-50
35. Captain Pilkington

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he is making to ensure that someone going abroad for health reasons is still able to pay his insurance contribution and so be entitled to the appropriate benefits on return.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

There are already provisions enabling insured persons going abroad to pay contributions in the employed, self-employed or non-employed class according to their circumstances. A person going abroad for the purpose of being treated for incapacity may remain entitled to sickness benefit and have contributions credited to him.

Captain Pilkington

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that this does in fact apply in all cases? He may remember a case about which I have been corresponding with him for some time. Would he inquire a little further and see that all such cases are in fact satisfactorily dealt with?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The particular case which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind is one upon which he has had correspondence with my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary. I have the correspondence in front of me. I think, with respect, that it raises rather different issues, being a rather complicated case, from those raised by the Question.

Mr. F. Noel-Baker

May I ask the Minister whether arrangements are made, or, if not, whether he would consider making arrangements, which would enable a person going abroad for health reasons and becoming eligible while he is abroad to draw his retirement pension, but being unable to return to this country because of the state of his health, to have his retirement pension paid to a relative or into a Savings Bank account during the period of his absence?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I would rather see a Question of that complexity on the Paper, if the hon. Gentleman would be so good as to put it down.