§ 38 and 39. Mr. Stanley Prescottasked the Minister of National Insurance (1) how many old age pensioners have gone overseas within the last 12 months and have asked to have their pensions paid to them abroad; how many such pensions are, in fact, being paid; how many have been refused; and in respect of how many no decision has yet been taken;
(2) whether old age pensioners who proceed overseas to British possessions can have their pensions paid to them there if they previously notify his Department; and how many such applications have been received and how many are outstanding.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Insurance (Mr. Steele)The Contributory Pensions Acts provide that pensioners outside the United Kingdom who are in His Majesty's dominions as defined in the Acts can, on application to my Department, have their pensions paid to them direct or to an agent in this country nominated by them. The Acts provide that a pension cannot be paid where a pensioner is in a foreign country. The number of old age pensions in payment outside the United Kingdom is 4,609. During the twelve months ending 30th June, 1947, 1,886 applications for payment were received from old age pensioners in or proceeding to His Majesty's dominions overseas; in 1,667 of these cases payment of the pensions is being made in the way requested by the pensioner; in the remaining 219 cases the necessary arrangements for payment are in hand. None has been refused. The number of old age pensioners who have gone to foreign countries is not available and could only be obtained by a scrutiny of the individual records of all contributory old age pensioners. The number of such persons is, however, very small.
§ Commander NobleIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are delays 222 of up to about five months in the payment of some of these pensions?
§ Mr. SteeleThat is not my information. I understand that none of the 219 cases in which payment is still to be made has been waiting more than four weeks.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIn view of the importance of emigration, particularly of whole families, and the difficulty of arranging for the junior members only to go, ought not the Government to conclude comprehensive arrangements with the Dominions for the transfer of pension rights?
§ Mr. SteeleSuch an arrangement does exist. A pensioner of this country can get his pension in those countries.
Mr. H. D. HughesIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are cases of great hardship where the only surviving relative of an old age pensioner may have married a member of the Allied Forces and gone overseas, the old age pensioner being left behind, alone? Will my hon. Friend see if anything can be done to make it possible for pensioners in this category to join their only remaining relative overseas, and still enjoy their pension?
§ Mr. SteeleThat is another question.