§ Mr. Jim Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the extension of the European Community social security regulations to the self-employed will come into effect; and what changes this will make for them.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe extension to the self-employed of cover under the Community regulations on social security will come into effect on 1 July. This will help self-employed people and their families moving within the Community to maintain their rights to social security benefits. A most important feature of this extended cover is that it will include medical care for the self-employed who fall ill or have an accident while they are visiting another member State. Similar arrangements for medical cover for the non-employed visiting other member States will come into effect from the same date. Leaflets explaining the wider cover for medical care and simple rules for obtaining it are available from the Department's local offices and some travel agents. A leaflet about social security rights can be obtained from the Department's overseas branch in Newcasle-upon-Tyne.