§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North dated 4th April 1978, if he will now give a list of the countries, other than EEC member States, with which there is a bilateral reciprocal agreement concerning payment of child benefit and dependency increases of other social security cash benefits; and how he checks that the information obtained is authentic.
§ Mr. OrmeChild benefit can be paid, under the terms of reciprocal agreements, 423W to persons in the United Kingdom in respect of children resident in the Isle of Man and to employed earners in the United Kingdom in respect of children resident in Spain.
Increases of some contributory social security benefits can be paid, under the terms of reciprocal agreements, to persons in the United Kingdom in respect of adult and child dependants resident in Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Cyprus, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey, Malta, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Yugoslavia, and in respect of child dependants resident in Finland, New Zealand and Sweden.
As with claims made in respect of dependants resident in the United Kingdom, evidence of age, relationship and dependency may be required. Periodically the claimant is required to confirm that the circumstances of any dependant for whom he has been awarded benefit remain unchange. In cases of doubt, local inquiries may be made by the social security authorities of the country in which the dependant resides under the provisions for mutual co-operation contained in the agreements.