Oral Answers to Questions — Social Security – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 October 1998.
Mr Peter Pike
Labour, Burnley
12:00,
19 October 1998
What changes he proposes in the habitual residence test. [53483]
Angela Eagle
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Social Security)
I expect to bring forward our proposals for the future of the habitual residence test later this year.
Mr Peter Pike
Labour, Burnley
Does my hon. Friend agree that many British citizens who return to this country are caught by the rule introduced by the previous Government and suffer great hardship as a result of the way in which it is enforced?
Angela Eagle
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Social Security)
I agree with my hon. Friend's observation. The habitual residence test was introduced after the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley) sang at the Tory party conference. The rule was intended to end benefit tourism, but 76 per cent. of those who fail the habitual residence test are UK citizens. We are examining the test in great detail to determine its future and find out what can be done to make it more effective. I assure the House that we shall make changes based on facts and cool reflection rather than bigotry and performances at the Tory party conference.
The political party system in the English-speaking world evolved in the 17th century, during the fight over the ascension of James the Second to the Throne. James was a Catholic and a Stuart. Those who argued for Parliamentary supremacy were called Whigs, after a Scottish word whiggamore, meaning "horse-driver," applied to Protestant rebels. It was meant as an insult.
They were opposed by Tories, from the Irish word toraidhe (literally, "pursuer," but commonly applied to highwaymen and cow thieves). It was used — obviously derisively — to refer to those who supported the Crown.
By the mid 1700s, the words Tory and Whig were commonly used to describe two political groupings. Tories supported the Church of England, the Crown, and the country gentry, while Whigs supported the rights of religious dissent and the rising industrial bourgeoisie. In the 19th century, Whigs became Liberals; Tories became Conservatives.
