§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the visit to the Peto institute in Hungary, by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Chelsea (Mr. Scott), in mid-September; whether the visit resulted in administrative easement of benefit transferral for the United Kingdom families concerned; and what proposals he now has for further support and development of conductive education in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ScottI visited the Peto institute during a short visit to Hungary from 18–21 September, and I was very impressed by the skill and dedication of Dr. Hari and her staff. I met some of the United Kingdom families whose children were attending the Peto institute, and listened to their concerns. I also saw two examples of the use of conductors in Hungarian hospitals and had discussions with Hungarian Government Ministers.
Following an earlier visit by officials, we had already made special arrangements for co-ordinating the handling of claims by the United Kingdom families for attendance allowance, invalid care allowance and mobility allowance. The arrangements are intended to reduce the need for inquiries and to enable benefits to continue in payment abroad without interruption. Additionally, information already obtained for attendance allowance purposes will be used, wherever possible, for deciding claims for
Unemployment benefit only Supplementary benefit and unemployment benefit Supplementary benefit only No benefit2 February 1982 2,158 472 2,192 759 February 1984 1,490 428 3,220 848 November 1986 1,400 371 2,897 961 November 1987 870 195 2,422 807 Notes:
1 Data are normally obtained as at November of each year. However as a result of industrial action during 1981 and 1984 it has not been possible to give data for those dates. Instead figures as at February 1982 and 1984 have been provided.
2 The only figures available are for those who are "signing" at the unemployment benefit office to receive National Insurance credits.