HC Deb 30 November 1988 vol 142 c263W
Sir Eldon Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to negotiate a new reciprocal agreement with the Government of Australia to ensure the indexation of retirement and widows' pensions being paid to British pensioners who live in Australia and Australian pensioners who live in Britain.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The Government have at present no plans to renegotiate the social security agreement with Australia so as to provide for the indexation of retirement and widows' pensions.

Sir Eldon Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of unfreezing the retirement pensions of British ex-service men and their widows now living in Australia.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I regret that separate statistics are not kept on the number of British ex-service men and their widows who receive United Kingdom retirement pensions and live in Australia. However, the cost of paying full rates of pensions and widows benefits to all United Kingdom pensioners in Australia, including British ex-service men and their widows, is estimated at 1988 rates to be £88 million a year.