§ 9. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Social Security how many people have benefited in the last year under the reciprocal agreement on social security between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands; and why David Belsham of the Post Office, Wivenhoe Cross, is not able to claim sickness benefit under this agreement although he contracted poliomyelitis in Holland last year.
§ Mr. PentlandComprehensive figures are not available, but it is estimated that in the year 1967 the number of people who received benefit by virtue of our agreement with the Netherlands was of the order of 700 and that the number of employed persons who remained insured 859 in the United Kingdom while working in the Netherlands was of the order of 500. The hon. Member's constituent was not entitled to sickness benefit while he was in the Netherlands because he was not covered by any of the exceptions to the general rule that people who are abroad are disqualified for receiving sickness benefit.
§ Mr. RidsdaleIs not the hon. Gentle-man aware that my constituent has to have a certificate of incapacity to work, but why is not a Netherlands doctor perfectly capable of giving a certificate of incapacity to work, as is a British doctor?
§ Mr. PentlandI am aware of the case which the hon. Gentleman has in mind and I have a good deal of sympathy with it, but our agreement with the Netherlands gives no power to pay sickness benefit in the Netherlands, except where incapacity is certified in this country—and this applies to the hon. Gentleman's constituent—before the insured person goes to the Netherlands.
§ Mr. RidsdaleOn a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.