Britain will suspend welfare payments to family members of terrorism suspects as well as the suspects themselves, the Treasury said on Monday. The announcement amounts to an expansion of government powers to deny state benefits to those accused of links to terrorism.
Previously, people listed as terrorism suspects have been refused benefits under UN rules, which Britain helped draft as a member of the United Nations Security Council. The new rules mean members of their households will be cut off as well.
"The government has decided that, given the fact that household income is generally pooled, state benefits paid to individuals sharing the same household with a listed person would be directly or indirectly for the listed person's benefit," said junior treasury minister Ed Balls.
In a written statement to parliament he said the new restrictions now apply to the households of five suspects, but did not name them. They have all been denied child benefit and two have been denied tax credits.
Under the rules, those denied benefits can apply for a special licence to receive payments necessary for basic needs, with permission of a UN committee. Four of the five households are receiving interim payments pending their applications for licences, Balls said.
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