§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost to United Kingdom public funds of increases in the sums of supplementary benefits paid to persons from the Republic of Ireland, now resident in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland, whose social security payments, namely pensions and so on, have been reduced as a result of the differing values of the £ Sterling and the Irish punt; how many persons living in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are affected; and if he will ensure that his Department resumes payment of the total sums of pensions plus appropriate supplementary benefits to such persons resident in the United Kingdom and recovers the cost from the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mrs. ChalkerPersons in the United Kingdom who are entitled to receive social security benefits from the Irish Republic have been unable for some time to receive payment of those benefits owing to industrial action in the Republic. About 5,500 beneficiaries are affected. Separate figures are not held for Northern Ireland. Supplementary benefit is being awarded by the United Kingdom authorities to the beneficiaries concerned, where need arises, and this will be recovered when arrears of the Irish benefits become payable. No information is available concerning the number claiming supplementary benefit.
On the question of parity, discussions are currently taking place with the authorities in Dublin on the issues arising on the payment of benefits overseas as a result of the break in parity between the sterling and Irish currencies.