§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he received representations from the Irish Government regarding the proposed habitual residence regulations; what was the substance of the representations; and what plans his Department has to take action as a result of these representations.
§ Mr. BurtDepartment of Social Security Ministers met members of the Irish Government on a number of occasions earlier this year. The regulations laid on 11 July, which introduce a habitual residence test into income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit from 1 August, enable people who are habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Irish Republic to qualify for those benefits, subject to satisfaction of the other conditions of entitlement. This maintains the reciprocal access to benefits between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic based upon the common travel area which has existed for many years.
§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he received representations from the European Commission regarding the proposed habitual residence regulation; what is the substance of the representations; if he will place them in the Library; and what plans his Department has in view of the representations.
§ Mr. BurtThe Commission for the European Communities wrote on 15 March drawing attention to the existence of Community law in relation to residence tests and the right of free movement. The regulations which introduce a habitual residence test into income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit, laid on 11 July, take account of the requirements of Community law.