§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he proposes to make a decision about the claim for unemployment benefit of the constituent of the right hon. Member for Doncaster, who was made redundant while working for a German employer in Saudi Arabia, and about whom the right hon. Member wrote to the Minister of State on 8 February;
(2) why, in the case of the constituent of the right hon. Member for Doncaster who had been made redundant while working in Saudi Arabia for a German employer, his Department's local benefit office in Doncaster have ruled that the constituent is ineligible for unemployment benefit although the Minister of State informed the right hon. Member that the case raises legal problems that must be determined before a decision can be made.
§ Mr. RossiI have today replied to the right hon. Member's letter of 8 February.
Decisions on benefit claims are the responsibility of the statutory authorities. In this case the insurance officer disallowed the claim of the right hon. Member's constituent on the ground that he had insufficient United Kingdom contributions to qualify for unemployment benefit. I understand, however, that this decision is being reviewed taking account of the possible application of the EC regulations on social security for migrant workers. The right hon. Member's constituent will have the right of appeal if he is dissatisfied with the outcome.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in advising a British citizen who has 43W been made redundant while working in Saudi Arabia for a German employer that he should seek unemployment benefit in Germany and not in the United Kingdom, he takes into consideration fares and the cost of subsistence during the making of the claim; and if he offers any advice about in which office in Germany the claim should be lodged.
§ Mr. RossiIn the case to which I believe the right hon. Member refers the claimant was advised that as he had last worked for a German company and paid German contributions a claim for unemployment benefit would be proper to that country. Arrangements could be made for such a claim, if lodged with an unemployment benefit office in the United Kingdom, to be transferred to Germany.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any citizen of the United Kingdom who accepts employment outside the European Community for an employer based within the Community but outside the United Kingdom runs the risk of prejudicing any right to social security benefits including pension rights.
§ Mr. RossiThe preservation of benefit rights will vary according to the circumstances in each case depending on the benefit being claimed and the individual's contribution record in the United Kingdom at the time of claim. A further factor may be whether or not the United Kingdom has a reciprocal agreement on social security with the country in which the individual is employed.