asked the Minister for Health the social services for dependants of persons resident in Britain or for British pensioners resident here for which this country will be recouped by the British Government under EEC regulations.
Written Answers. - EEC Social Security Regulations.
203.
The reference by the Minister for Finance in his financial statement on the 1973 budget on the 16th May last, Official Report, Volume 265, No. 9, column 1244, lines 18-23, to which the Deputy's question relates is to an advance of £1.5 million in respect of the current financial year to be made to this country arising from the operation of EEC Regulation No. 1408/71. This governs the provision of social security for migrant workers. The advance is in respect of health services and is included as an appropriation-in-aid to the Vote for Health.
This regulation preserves for migrant workers and for social security pensioners and their dependants their earned entitlement to social security benefits, including health services, when in any of the member States of the EEC. The advance of £1.5 million is in respect of the estimated imbalance in the financial year 1973-74 as between the cost of providing health services for eligible persons in Ireland for whom the United Kingdom is liable and vice versa.