§ Mr. Paul Deanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated additional cost to Great Britain of a reciprocal agreement with Canada relating to pension increases; and what offsetting financial benefit would accrue to Great Britain.
§ Mr. OrmeThe additional cost would be about £9 million a year if all British pensions paid in Canada were brought up to the rates payable from November 1977 to pensioners in the United Kingdom. The amount of any financial benefit accruing to Great Britain would depend on the precise terms of any agreement but is likely to be much less than the cost of paying British pensions in Canada at full United Kingdom rates, as the number of such pensions would greatly exceed the number of Canadian pensions payable in this country.