§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications were made to social security commissioners for leave to appeal on a point of law against a decision of a medical appeal tribunal (such leave having been refused by the tribunal) in each year from 1980 to 1985 (a) nationally, (b) in London south region and (c) in London north region; and, for the same years and areas, what numbers of applications were granted.
§ Mr. MajorThe information required is as follows:
negotiations which his Department has been having with the Federal Government of Canada in relation to the index linking of the pensions of British retirement pensioners 531W living in Canada; whether agreement has been reached; and when he expects this index linking will be commenced and the relative agreement signed.
§ Mr. MajorOfficials of the Department and of the Canadian Department of Health and Welfare have work on hand on the preparatory technical matters which would lead to a social security convention between Canada and the United Kingdom to include uprating of United Kingdom pensions payable to pensioners in Canada. No agreement has been reached as the finance to permit a measure of pensions uprating is not available. We cannot therefore say when index-linking might commence or a convention be signed.
§ Sir John Farrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of the index linking for the first year of pensions for retirement pensioners living in Canada.
§ Mr. MajorThe cost of paying full index-linked United Kingdom pension to pensioners in Canada is estimated to be over £35 million a year. The cost of paying only the pension increases due after any agreement came into effect is estimated at about £4.8 million in the first year, rising progressively. These estimates are based on November 1985 rates.