§ 28. Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress she has made in achieving reciprocal arrangements for the self-employed in other European countries.
§ Mrs. CastleThe EEC regulations relating to social security benefits and medical treatment for persons moving between member States do not as yet cover the self-employed. Provision for cash social security benefits has, however, been made under bilateral agreements with each of the EEC countries; medical treatment is available under bilateral agreements for self-employed persons visiting Denmark and Gibraltar and should shortly be available in the German Federal Republic.
Outside the EEC, agreements with Austria, Norway, Spain, Sweden, 172W Switzerland, Yugoslavia, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands cover cash social security benefits for the self-employed, and medical treatment is available for visitors under agreements with Austria, Bulgaria, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, the USSR, Yugoslavia, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
The United Kingdom continues to press for an extension of the scope of the EEC regulations to cover self-employed and non-employed persons so that, in particular, medical treatment is available to them under the legislation of member States when visiting those countries. This matter is now being actively examined within the Community.