§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made on extending reciprocal agreements within the EEC on social security to the non-employed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe intend, subject to the views of the other European Community member States to renegotiate the bilateral conventions on social security which the United Kingdom has with eight of the other member States, and to negotiate a new convention with Greece. We shall seek to reach agreement with each of the other member States that the conventions should cover insured non-employed people, and other people not covered by the EC social security regulations. A draft text on these lines has been sent to the Republic of Ireland for consideration, and work is proceeding on texts for revised conventions with the Federal Republic of Germany, France and the Netherlands.