Mr Major’s Written Question on Supplementary Benefit – 21 November 1980

Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Supplementary Benefit, published on 21st November 1980.

Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to limit receipt of supplementary benefit by nationals of the member States of the European Community.

Mrs. Chalker Community nationals cannot be denied access to the supplementary benefits scheme, but those who come here with the deliberate intention of relying on the scheme for support can be asked to leave the country by the Home Office. Arrangements have been made for appreciably earlier reports of benefit claims to be made to the Home Office by the DHSS. This should help speed up action and discourage abuse.