§ 64. Mr. J. R. H. Hutchisonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether agreement has been reached on the transfer of rights to old-age pensions and other social services with countries which are members of the Council of Europe.
§ Mr. PeakeThe Government have ratified the Council of Europe Interim Agreements on Social Security and the Convention on Social and Medical Assistance as well as the Brussels Treaty Conventions on Social Security and on Social and Medical Assistance, and have concluded bilateral agreements on social security with the Irish Republic, France, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and Italy. Similar agreements are being negotiated with other members of the Council of Europe.
§ 65. Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now make a statement on the outcome of the discussions he had with Sir W. Bodkin, Minister of Social Security of the New Zealand Government in June, 1954, on the question of the payment of reciprocal pensions to old-age pensioners now in this country from New Zealand.
§ Mr. PeakeI had an opportunity last month of discussing this matter with Mr. Halstead, the present Minister of Social Security in New Zealand, and I have now heard from him that he is ready to send officers of his Department to London to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on social security.