asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the delays in establishing the rights of social security benefit of United Kingdom citizens who have returned to the United Kingdom after a period of insurable employment in Common Market countries, and of the consequent inconvenience and hardship that this is causing to persons who have a full contribution record ; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

Delay can occur in deciding claims to pension in these circumstances as other EEC countries need to determine pension entitlement under their social security laws. In such cases, pension arising from United Kingdom national insurance is paid pending final determination of the claim. Delay should be gradually reduced through a new Community procedure, shortly to be implemented, whereby centralised records of persons employed in more than one EEC country will be held in each member State concerned.