§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions have been held between his Department and the Canadian Government regarding the uprating of pensions payable to pensioners residing in Canada; and when the most recent meeting took place.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe most recent meeting between officials of the Department and Canadian officials to discuss a possible agreement to include the uprating of pensions payable to British pensioners in Canada was in 1983. Further progress has not been possible because of the considerable public expenditure implications—about£48.5 million a year at April 1988 pension rates—of such a change to a policy consistently followed since 1955.