§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now increase the pensions of those British retirement pensioners who are living in Canada on pensions that were frozen when they left the United Kingdom, in order to alleviate hardship.
§ Dr. BoysonUnited Kingdom pensioners abroad receive their pensions at the rate in force when they left this country or when they first qualified, if they were then abroad. Subsequent uprating increases are payable only where provided for under EC regulations or under a bilateral convention on social security between the United Kingdom and the host country. There is no such agreement between the United Kingdom and Canada. Given current economic constraints, I cannot forecast when any change in this situation may be possible.