§ 1. Dame Joan Vickersasked the Minister of Social Security whether she is considering providing for the same age of retirement for men and women.
§ Mrs. HartThe Government's comprehensive review will cover all aspects of the National Insurance scheme, but it is not possible at this stage to say what decisions will be reached on any particular issue.
§ 4. Mr. David Steelasked the Minister of Social Security whether she will arrange for the proposed increase in retirement pension to be paid for British citizens resident abroad, or, alternatively, whether she will seek to make reciprocal arrangements with other countries to ensure that a person living in retirement is able to withstand increases in the cost of living abroad.
§ Mr. LoughlinMy right hon. Friend is satisfied that there are good reasons for the rule we have followed in the past, namely, that the new rates of retirement pension do not apply to people who have already qualified for their pensions and taken up residence abroad before the date of the increase. My right hon. Friend is always glad to consider whether there is any scope for an amendment of this rule in the reciprocal agreements we negotiate with other countries.