§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the number of persons, and the costs involved, who are now claiming welfare benefits, including family allowances for their wives, children and dependants still remaining in Commonwealth countries after the head of the family has immigrated to Great Britain.
§ Mr. DeanNo. Welfare benefits and family allowances for wives, children and dependants remaining in Commonwealth countries are not payable.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether immigrants who have arrived in the United Kingdom with no contributions to the National Insurance Funds and who pay no income tax due to being on welfare payments are entitled to claim family allowances for children with them and for children in residence in the countries from which the immigrants left; and whether married men are also able to claim family allowances for their illegitimate children left in their countries of origin.
§ Mr. DeanEntitlement to family allowances is not related to the payment of national insurance contributions or United Kingdom income tax. Normally an immigrant must be resident in this country for at least one year in the case of a British subject born abroad, and three years in the case of an alien, before he can become entitled to family allowances. The allowances are not payable in respect of children, whether illegitimate or otherwise, who remain in their country of origin.