British MP to raise matter of UK benefits overseas in Parliament next week

PALMA
THE Conservative MP for North Thanet, Roger Gale, has taken up the issue of exportable health benefits not being paid to British citizens in the European Union and will raise the issue in Parliament on Monday.

The Bulletin reported last month that a campaign has been set up to force the Labour government to comply with a European Court of Justice ruling handed down on exportable benefits in October, 2007, and Roger Gale, who has close links with the British community here in Majorca, has given his backing to the campaign.

He told the Bulletin yesterday that he fears many British expatriates living overseas on investment incomes and pensions held in the UK are going to need these benefits more than ever now as the weak Pound and the cuts in interests rates have reduced their monthly incomes by as much as a third.

The campaign is lobbying the government to comply with the ECJ order and pay up on Disabled Living and Attendance allowance which at least 1'000 Britons living overseas within the European Union are entitled to.