HC Deb 12 March 1981 vol 1000 cc413-4W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances an immigrant is entitled to retirement pension.

Mr. Rossi

The national insurance legislation governing the award of retirement pension does not discriminate between immigrants and the indigenous population. An immigrant who satisfied the contribution conditions would, therefore, receive a retirement pension when he reached pension age and retired. In applying the contribution conditions, insurance in other EEC countries or in countries with which the United Kingdom has a bilateral agreement on social security may be taken into account.

Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of immigrants currently entitled to a retirement pension (a) who were entitled on arrival and (b) who were entitled after less than five, 10 and 20 years in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Rossi

A national insurance retirement pension may be awarded at retirement age to any person who satisfies the contribution conditions applicable to this pension and no distinction is made between those who came to this country as immigrants and those who were born here. It is therefore, not possible to estimate the number of immigrants who are in receipt of retirement pension. In applying the contribution conditions, insurance in other EEC countries or in countries with which the United Kingdom has a bilateral agreement on social security, may be taken into account.

Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what happens to the United Kingdom pension rights of an immigrant who returns to his country of origin; in what circumstances any pension to which he is entitled increases as pensions in the United Kingdom increase; and whether different rules apply to different countries.

Mr. Rossi

Retirement and widows' pensions under the social security scheme are payable to people living abroad at the rates which were current when they left the United Kingdom or when they first became entitled to the pension if they were abroad at that time. Subsequent increases are not payable unless it has been possible to make a reciprocal agreement with the other country under which each country undertakes to pay pension increases to its pensioners living in the other. Generally these agreements are comprehensive and cover a number of benefits but, because of the differing nature of the social security schemes of other countries, no two agreements are identical.