This article examines some of the main ways in which racism operates through the social security system in Britain, in particular at the connection between entitlement to benefit and immigration control and at the failure of the system to meet specific problems faced by black claim ants. It looks also at the implications for black people of the recent govern ment review of the social security system and the Social Security Bill before parliament at the time of writing. A final section suggests some points for consideration in the development of an anti-racist strategy for welfare benefits.
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References
1.
Public Record Office file HO 213/714
2.
Public Record Office file CAB 129/40
3.
Public Record Office file CAB 130/61
4.
The development of this is traced in Andrew Nicol: Illegal Entrants, Runnymede Trust/Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, 1981.
5.
Social Assistance, DHSS, 1978, para. 4.14
6.
Letter to DHSS, 6.2.79
7.
Cmnd, 7773, HMSO, 1979
8.
Hansard, Social Security Bill, standing committee E, 21.2.80
9.
Hansard, 10.11.82
10.
British Nationality Administration and Fees, Cmnd. 9183, HMSO, 1984.
