§ 16. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will circulate a list of the reciprocal arrangements with European Economic Community members which give British citizens access to their social services.
§ The Minister for Health (Mr. Kenneth Clarke)EC regulation 1408/71 determines the circumstances in which British citizens have access to social security benefits and health care in other member states.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeDoes not the reference that my right hon. and learned Friend has so helpfully given emphasise that membership of the EEC brings with it, or increasingly will bring with it, among many other things, the reciprocal benefit of access to other countries' social security provisions? Is that not an additional reason for this country remaining an active member of the Community?
§ Mr. ClarkeJust so. The present arrangements ensure that nationals of this country have access to the health care and social insurance systems of other countries on exactly the same basis as nationals of those countries. In all our work in the Council, the British Government work to simplify and improve the arrangements. I have not the first idea where the Labour party would take us if—should it come to power and try to carry out whatever its policy on the EEC might then be—it tried to renegotiate all those beneficial arrangements.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Minister aware that, in Italy, the Mafia has devised a system of supplementing income and thus providing a social service for members of the family by means of what is known as the tinned tomato scandal? Are any reciprocal arrangements in operation on that matter?
§ Mr. ClarkeNo, Sir, but no doubt the Greater London council is exploring the possibilities.