§ 33. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will seek to re-negotiate the social security agreement between Belgium and the United Kingdom so that contributors to the social security funds of one country are entitled to draw benefits in the other.
§ Miss HerbisonThe existing agreement provides that, subject to certain conditions, benefit may be drawn in one country by virtue of contributions paid in the other. I have no proposals at present for negotiations with Belgium for a new agreement.
§ Mr. RidleyIs the right hon. Lady aware of the case which I sent to her 22 Parliamentary Secretary in which a constituent of mine, who had lived for many years in Belgium, paying contributions, was denied unemployment pay when she came to this country? Does she not think that this lady has been defrauded? Will she think again about this most important matter?
§ Miss HerbisonI know of the case which the hon. Member has in mind. He knows from the correspondence that this case is at present sub judice. He is also aware that the reciprocal agreement is such that before a person either in Belgium or in this country may have unemployment benefit, that person must have worked and had at least one class one contribution.