§ Mr. Winnickasked the Minister of Social Security if she will state the numbers of people in 1965, 1966 and 1967 who, having been ill on short trips abroad, claimed sickness benefits on return to the United Kingdom, but whose claims in this matter were disallowed.
§ Mr. PentlandI regret that the information requested is not available.
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§ Mr. Winnickasked the Minister of Social Security if she will now review the position whereby British residents who are ill while on short trips abroad cannot claim sickness benefits from her department.
Mr. FentlandNo. Sickness benefit is paid for incapacity for work and we have already lifted the disqualification for receiving sickness benefit abroad in circumstances in which we can be reasonably satisfied that there is continuing incapacity. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to go further because of the impossibility of obtaining the same weight of evidence of incapacity from people abroad as that which is required from people in this country. People here are expected to produce continuing evidence of incapacity for work from a registered medical practitioner and to submit themselves, when required to do so, to medical examination by a Regional Medical Officer in the service of the appropriate Health Department.