§ Miss Vickersasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether a reciprocal agreement on social security has yet been concluded with New Zealand.
§ Mr. PeakeI am glad to say that a reciprocal agreement has now been concluded. It is being signed tomorrow in Wellington and will come into operation on 1st April, 1956. Broadly speaking the agreement will enable persons coming from New Zealand to count residence there towards the satisfaction of the conditions for retirement pension, widows' benefits, and sickness and unemployment benefits in this country; persons in New Zealand who have been resident in this country will in a similar way be able to count their residence here towards the satisfaction of the conditions for the benefits there.