§ Sir Peter Emery asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons who receive payment of their retirement pension have this paid to them overseas; and how much money is involved.
§ Mr. WhitneyOn 31 December 1982, the latest date for which we have firm figures, 289,893 people receiving British retirement pension were living abroad. The cost of paying pensions to them was then about £206 million. It is estimated that this cost has now risen to about £250 million, partly as a result of an increase in the number of pensioners. Later figures are not obtainable owing to the industrial action at Newcastle central office.