§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under which statute or provision a reduction is made in the amount of pension received by a member of the United Kingdom who resides outside the United Kingdom; and how many people this law affects, excluding Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. O'MalleySocial Security retirement and widows' pensions are paid to persons living abroad at the rate of632W obtaining when the pensioner left the United Kingdom or when he qualified whilst abroad. Any subsequent increases in rate are payable only within the EEC and in other countries with which we have appropriate reciprocal agreements.
The statutory provisions are contained in section 82(5) of the Social Security Act 1975, regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations (1975 No. 563) and, for the benefit increases introduced in November 1975, regulation 4 of the Social Security Benefit Up-rating Regulations (1975, No. 1107).
At 31st December 1975, 115,350 recipients of British retirement and widows pensions were living in countries where increases of pension are not payable.