§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to ensure that overseas students cannot easily obtain social security benefits to which they are not entitled.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Viscount Astor)The Government are planning to introduce a test of habitual residence into the income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit schemes which will affect, among others, those part-time students from member states of the European Economic Area who claim to be looking for work in the United Kingdom. Most students on full-time courses are already not entitled to these benefits.