Mrs. Jegerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what consultations she is having with the Government of Eire about reciprocal pension arrangements.
§ Miss HerbisonMy Department has recently had discussions with the Department of Social Welfare of the Irish Republic with a view to the drawing up of a new agreement which will include pensions for old age. The existing agreement with the Irish Republic, which was negotiated in 1960, covers most of the benefits provided under the National 79W Insurance Act, but it does not cover retirement pensions because the Irish Republic at that time had no scheme of contributory pensions for old age.