asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in supplying the required information to the British Ministry of Social Security regarding a man (name supplied) in County Meath.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disability Benefit Claimant.
36.
EEC regulations relating to migrant workers who move within the community came into operation as far as this country is concerned from 1st April, 1973. Under these regulations, claims for disability benefit current at that date from persons whose last employment was in the United Kingdom were transferred from my Department for payment by the United Kingdom authorities.
The person referred to by the Deputy in his question had been receiving disability benefit from my Department but ceased to furnish medical certificates after 27th March, 1973. His claim did not show that his last employment was in the United Kingdom. However, the claimant himself sent medical certificates from the beginning of April to the United Kingdom authorities who, when they could not trace a claim, returned them to my Department in mid-May. The position was clarified, following inquiry from the claimant, on 5th June and his claim has been transferred to Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
I had a letter last week from the British Ministry of Social Security which prompted this question. This letter was to the effect that the Ministry had not received this information from the Department concerned. Has this information been forwarded to the British Ministry since?
The position was clarified, following inquiry from the claimant, on 5th June. I am not aware of the date of the letter to which the Deputy has referred.
Perhaps the letters crossed.