HC Deb 26 July 1976 vol 916 c119W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, on 17th July, he will seek to amend the Social Security Act to enable people from New Commonwealth countries to claim social welfare benefits in accordance with their religious beliefs.

Mr. Orme

I shall of course be replying to my hon. Friend's letter in due course. But I can say now that I am sure that it would be unacceptable for the amount of benefit a contributor to the national insurance scheme receives to be determined by his religious beliefs.