§ 24. Mr. Clifford ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken to apply the parity of treatment arrangement between Northern750W Ireland and Great Britain to ensure equality of treatment between identical social security benefit applicants residing in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. [24644]
§ Mr. AncramAlthough social security benefits are available in Northern Ireland on the same basis as they are in Great Britain, Northern Ireland has its own social security legislation and the independent adjudication authorities are obliged to apply this in deciding on applications for benefit having regard to the particular circumstances of the applicant only. The statutory appeal procedures can be invoked if the applicant is dissatisfied with the decision in their case.