§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the level of State retirement pensions paid to British people living in India.
§ Mr. RossiNo. The general position is that British pensioners abroad receive their pensions at the rate in force when they left this country or when they qualified abroad, if later. Subsequent increases are payable only where provided for under EC regulations or under a bilateral agreement on social security between the United Kingdom and another country. In view of the continuing need to contain public expenditure, there is no prospect at present of any change in this situation. The hon. Member may have in mind an individual case which he raised recently in correspondence. I am writing to him about this.