§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of entering into a social security convention with Canada in respect of British pensioners living there (a) if they were to receive annual uprating increases and (b) if a convention is entered into to enable British pensioners there to qualify for Canadian pensions.
§ Dr. BoysonThe costs of any social security convention between the United Kingdom and Canada would depend on the provisions of the convention as 69W agreed betweem the two countries. However, it is estimated that to pay British pensions in Canada at the rates which would be payable in this country would cost an additional £32 million a year at 1983 rates. We have no estimate of the cost of changing the qualifying conditions for Canadian pensions.