HC Deb 22 May 1968 vol 765 cc108-9W
Mr. Oakes

asked the Minister of Social Security, if, in view of the country's need for export contracts, she will introduce legislation to amend Section 5(4) of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965 to admit to benefits workers who are injured when working abroad who in other respects satisfy the conditions for benefit.

Mr. Loughlin

We have concluded reciprocal agreements with 16 countries to provide, among other things, that workers from the United Kingdom shall, subject to certain conditions, remain within the scope of our schemes of National Insurance and Industrial Injuries insurance while they are employed in those countries and shall be excluded from the corresponding schemes of those countries. I am afraid there are difficulties in the way of any further extension of our scheme of Industrial Injuries insurance.

Mr. Oakes

asked the Minister of Social Security how many applications for industrial injury benefit have been refused during each of the last five years, on the ground that the injury was sustained abroad in the service of an employer resident in this country.

Mr. Loughlin

I regret that the Ministry's statistical records are in a form which does not allow this particular information to be extracted.