§ Mr. Hornbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what improvements in the pensions of British citizens resident in Australia are available under reciprocal arrangements now that Australia has changed its own pension provisions.
62W
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUYING POWER OF THE RETIREMENT PENSION AND THE RETAIL PRICES INDEX BETWEEN JUNE 1970 AND FEBRUARY 1973, SHOWN BY INDICES BASED ON JUNE 1970 = 100 Month Standard rate of retirement pension for a single person General Index of Retail Prices Buying power of the retirement pension after adjustment for changes in prices 1970 June … … 100 100.0 100.0 July … … 100 100.7 99.3 August … … 100 100.6 99.4 September … … 100 101.1 98.9 October … … 100 102.2 97.8 November … … 100 102.9 97.2 December … … 100 103.6 96.5 1971 January … … 100 105.1 95.2 February … … 100 105.6 94.7 March … … 100 106.5 93.9 April … … 100 108.8 91.9 May … … 100 109.5 91.3 June … … 100 110.3 90.7 July … … 100 110.9 90.1 August … … 100 111.0 90.1 September … … 120 111.2 108.0 October … … 120 111.8 107.3 November … … 120 112.4 106.7 December … … 120 113.0 106.2 1972 January … … 120 113.7 105.6 February … … 120 114.2 105.1 March … … 120 114.6 104.7 April … … 120 115.7 103.8 May … … 120 116.2 103.2 June … … 120 117.0 102.6 July … … 120 117.4 102.2 August … … 120 118.3 101.4 September … … 120 118.9 100.9 October … … 135 120.6 112.0 November … … 135 121.0 111.6 December … … 135 121.7 111.0 1973 January … … 135 122.4 110.3 February … … 135 123.2 109.6
§ Mr. DeanAny changes in our existing reciprocal agreement with Australia must await the passage of legislation on pensions now before the Australian Parliament. We are already in touch with the Australian authorities.