§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of the fact that German and French girls living in the YWCA at Bristol and who have never worked in Great Britain can claim up to £21 a week in supplementary benefit for up to six months, if he will state the equivalent amount payable to British nationals in similar circumstances in each of the EEC member States (a) by the member State concerned and (b) by his Department or otherwise.
§ Mr. OrmeI do not have the information to enable me to say what social assistance would be payable to British nationals in similar circumstances elsewhere in the EEC. I understand that assistance is commonly subject to local rules so that the basis on which it may be paid, and the amount payable, may vary from area to area. British nationals 67W would, however, receive the same treatment as nationals of the country concerned an das each EEC member State is party to the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance. This prohibits discrimination on nationality grounds where a national of one of the contracting countries is concerned. With regard to the second part of the Question, supplementary benefit is not paid to anyone outside Great Britain.