HC Deb 24 October 1978 vol 955 cc932-5W
Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will estimate the extra annual cost of paying retirement and widows' pensions at the current rate to former United Kingdom residents living abroad who currently receive the rate payable when they left the United Kingdom or when they first became entitled when living abroad.

Mr. Orme

£58½ million at the increased rates coming into operation next month.

Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list, by country, the number of former United Kingdom residents entitled to retirement and widows' pensions which are still paid at the rate when they left the United Kingdom or when they first became entitled when living abroad.

Mr. Orme

The information requested is as follows:

Country Retirement pensions in payment at 31st December 1977 Widows' pensions in payment at 31st December 1977
Afghanistan 1
Andorra 30 3
Angola 1
Anguilla 13
Antigua 38 1
Argentina 107 10
Australia 58,419 3,411
Bahamas 80 4
Bahrein 8 3
Bangladesh 492 43
Barbados 242 10
Belize 2
Bolivia 2
Botswana 21 2
Brazil 109 13
British India Ocean Territory 6 7
Brunei 4 2
Bulgaria 7
Burma 4
Cameroon (United Republic of) 4
Canada 22,142 1,461
Cayman Islands 11
Chile 20 1
China 6
Colombia 12 2
Costa Rica 1
Czechoslovakia 28 1
Dominica 66 3
Dominican Republic 12
Ecuador 8
Egypt 25 1
E1 Salvador 3
Ethiopia 4
Falkland Islands 2
Fiji 14 2
Finland 10 7
Gambia 3
German Democratic Republic 2
Ghana 24 4
Greece 279 40
Grenada 73 4
Guatemala 1
Guyana 88 8
Hong Kong 158 28
Hungary 87 4
Iceland 5 3

Country Retirement pensions in payment at 31st December 1977 Widows' pensions in payment at 31st December 1977
India 1,120 123
Indonesia 10
Iran 21 4
Iraq 1
Japan 23 8
Jordan 5
Kenya 207 33
Kuwait 4 1
Lebanon 13 1
Lesotho 3
Liberia 5
Libyan Arab Republic 5 3
Malagasay Republic 1
Malawi 30 3
Malaysia 39 4
Mauritius 21 2
Mexico 32 3
Monaco 92 6
Montserrat 74 1
Morocco 32 1
Mozambique 3 1
Namibia 6
Nepal 4
Netherlands Antilles 1
New Zealand 18,302 760
Nicaragua 2
Nigeria 58 28
Norfolk Island 13
Norway 45 14
Pakistan 1,435 498
Panama 2
Papua New Guinea 17
Peru 24 2
Philippines 5
Poland 2,803 100
Portugal (including Madeira) 596 17
Puerto Rico 1
Qatar 4
Rhodesia 2,339 206
Rumania 19 1
St. Helena 19
St. Kilts and Nevis 95 4
St. Lucia 111 7
St. Vincent 65 3
Sarawak 1
Saudi Arabia 10 6
Seychelles 21
Sierra Leone 24 4
Singapore 30 5
Solomon Islands 7
Somali (Democratic Republic of) 89 7
South Africa 8,278 527
Sri Lanka 42 2
Sudan 3 1
Swaziland 20 1
Sweden 23 8
Tanzania 34 3
Thailand 9
Trinidad and Tobago 127 18
Tunisia 5
Uganda 11
United Arab Emirates 13 4
Uruguay 10 1
USSR 411 43
Venezuela 24 2
Virgin Islands 6

Country Retirement pensions in payment at 31st December 1977 Widows' pensions in payment at 31st December 1977
Yemen—Arab Republic 617 23
Yemen—People' s Democratic Republic of 57 3
Zaire 10 1
Zambia 62 12
Tours 147 7
Unknown Countries 232 42
120,704 7,632

Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the countries with whom the United Kingdom has special arrangements for the payments of retirement and widows' pensions to former United Kingdom residents entitled to receive these, indicating in which countries the full current United Kingdom rate of benefits is payable and those where some lesser amount is paid.

Mr. Orme

The information requested is as follows:

(a) Countries in which United Kingdom retirement and widows' pensions are paid at the rates current in the United Kingdom:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Federal Republic of Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Guernsey
  • Irish Republic
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jersey
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Sark
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Yugoslavia

(b) Countries in which some United Kingdom retirement and widows' pensions are paid at rates lower than the rates current in the United Kingdom:

  • Bermuda
  • Jamaica
  • United States of America