§ Mr. William Yatesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what are the reasons for her decision not to pay increased pensions to retirement pensioners now living in the Republic of Eire.
§ Miss HerbisonRetirement pensions under the National Insurance Act in payment to persons living outside the United Kingdom are not increased when pensions in this country are increased unless the pensioner lives in a country with which there is a reciprocal agreement modifying this general rule. The existing agreement with the Irish Republic does not cover retirement pensioners because at the time it was signed there was no contributory pension scheme in that country.