§ Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what extent the pension rate of men who retire in this country and who later go to another part of the Commonwealth is increased when the pension rate is increased in Great Britain; and if he will amend the present regulations on this matter.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonWhen retirement pension rates are increased for pensioners in this country, those pensioners who are abroad and have ceased to be resident in this country do not receive the increase unless they are in countries with which we have concluded reciprocal agreements providing that anyone who has qualified for a pension under the legislation of one of the two countries will receive this pension at the current rate while he is in the other country. The only Commonwealth countries with which we have concluded agreements of this kind are Cyprus and Malta. I do not propose to amend this policy, which has been followed since pension rates were first increased in 1946.