HC Deb 28 March 1980 vol 981 cc698-9W
Mrs. Fenner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of United Kingdom retired pensioners now resident in Canada.

Mr. Prentice

There are approximately 27,000 United Kingdom retirement pensions in payment to persons resident in Canada.

Mrs. Fenner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of maintaining annual retirement pension increases to retired United Kingdom pensioners now living in Canada.

Mr. Prentice

It is estimated that bringing United Kingdom retirement pensions paid in Canada up to the rates currently payable in the United Kingdom would raise the cost of those pensions from about £10 million a year to £24 million a year. The cost of paying future increases to pensioners in Canada would depend on the amounts by which pension rates are raised each year.