§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider introducing regulations which would make it possible for Voluntary Service Overseas and other such organisations to continue the payment of class 1 contributions on behalf of the volunteers whilst they are on service overseas, in order to make those requiring it eligible for unemployment benefit upon their return to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. RossiVoluntary workers are treated in the same way as other people going abroad. They pay class 1 contributions during the first 52 weeks abroad if they work under a contract of service for an employer who has a place of business in the United Kingdom, if they are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and if they were resident in the United Kingdom immediately before their employment abroad began. Anyone who pays 52 class 1 contributions in these circumstances will be treated as having paid class 1 contributions throughout his period abroad and will generally qualify for unemployment benefit on his return to the United Kingdom. After the first 52 weeks, or if he is not liable to pay class 1 contributions, a person can pay voluntary class 3 contributions to protect his future rights to retirement and widows pensions. 201W Anyone who is not entitled to unemployment benefit on his return to this country and is suffering financial hardship can claim supplementary benefit. We have no plans to alter the present rules.