HC Deb 31 March 2004 vol 419 cc1495-6W
Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Government will make it their policy to restore parity between the state pension available to British citizens resident overseas and that available to UK residents. [164592]

Malcolm Wicks

The UK state pension is payable in all countries abroad to those who are entitled to it. It is uprated in the normal way for UK pensioners living overseas where there is a legal requirement or a reciprocal social security agreement to do so.

The Government are focusing their resources on helping poorer pensioners in the UK and has no plans to unfreeze UK state pensions paid overseas.

Lady Hermon

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the additional payment of £100 for those over 70 announced in the Budget will be paid to pensioners in Northern Ireland. [164388]

Malcolm Wicks

We anticipate that payments will be made in the same way for people in Northern Ireland as for the rest of the United Kingdom. We are looking at the most cost-effective and efficient way to deliver payments.