HC Deb 03 May 1988 vol 132 cc421-2W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the countries(a) with which there are reciprocal social security agreements; (b) in which British emigrant pensioners receive regular uprating of pensions in line with the United Kingdom; and if he is considering arranging an agreement to include Canada in the latter category.

Mr. Scott

The United Kingdom has reciprocal social security agreements with the following countries. British emigrant pensioners receive regular uprating of pensions in line with those in the United Kingdom in all these countries except for those marked with an asterisk.

  1. Australia*
  2. Austria
  3. Belgium
  4. Bermuda
  5. Canada*
  6. Cyprus
  7. Denmark
  8. Finland
  9. France
  10. Federal Republic of Germany
  11. Gibraltar
  12. Greece
  13. Iceland
  14. Republic of Ireland
  15. Isle of Man
  16. Israel
  17. Italy
  18. Jamaica
  19. Jersey and Guernsey
  20. Luxembourg
  21. Malta
  22. Mauritius
  23. Netherlands
  24. New Zealand*
    25. 422
  25. Norway*
  26. Portugal
  27. Spain
  28. Sweden
  29. Switzerland
  30. Turkey
  31. United States of America
  32. Yugoslavia

United Kingdom pension upratings are also paid to pensioners living in Sark by virtue of a provision of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations 1973.

Canadian and United Kingdom officials have discussed the possibility of revising the agreement between the two countries so that pension increases would be payable. However, to pay full United Kingdom pensions to all British pensioners in Canada would cost an additional £41 million a year. In view of the substantial costs involved I cannot say when we shall be able to make further progress towards a revised agreement.

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