§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether retired British people living in Portugal will be able to benefit from increases in retirement pensions.
§ Mr. Ennals:The reciprocal agreement with Portugal which was signed on 15th November last will enable British retirement pensioners living in Portugal to receive increases of pension which become payable after the date on which the agreement takes effect, but not those which became payable before that date. I hope that ratification of the agreement by both countries will take place in time to bring it into force during the first half of 1979.