HC Deb 30 November 1977 vol 940 cc277-8W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether unemployment benefit is paid to wives of Service personnel serving in West Germany in the form of Girocheques.

Mr. Orme

No. Where British unemployment benefit is payable in Germany by virtue of the EEC Regulations it is paid on behalf of my Department by the German authorities in German currency.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social benefits paid to the wives of Service personnel serving in West Germany are paid in the form of Girocheques.

Mr. Orme

No. The benefits administered by my Department, other than unemployment benefit, are normally paid to recipients in West Germany in sterling by payable order negotiable through a bank account.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social benefits paid to the wives of Service personnel in the United Kingdom are paid by Girocheques.

Mr. Deakins

Payment is usually made by Girocheque or order book, depending on the benefit claimed.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether unemployment benefit paid to the wives of Service personnel in the United Kingdom is paid by Girocheques.

Mr. Deakins

Yes.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the procedure by which wives of Service personnel resident in West Germany can make claims for unemployment benefit.

Mr. Orme

The circumstances in which British unemployment benefit may be paid in West Germany were explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 24th November.—[Vol. 939, c.885–6.]—If the wife of a Service man is eligible to continue to receive the benefit in that country by virtue of the EEC regulations she should register at the local Germany employment office and present a form E303 or a bilingual letter, which will be issued on request by the unemployment benefit office where she has been registering in the United Kingdom.