§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she plans to introduce proposals on the uprating of state retirement pensions to people resident abroad; and if she will make a statement. [583]
§ Mr. DenhamState Retirement Pensions are uprated within the European Economic Area and in certain countries with which the United Kingdom has a Social Security agreement which provides for uprating.
The Government has no plans at present to introduce proposals on the uprating of pensions paid to people living in other countries. There are competing demands and constraints on Social Security spending, and it would be wrong to raise expectations that uprating these pensions would be likely to attract priority under current circumstances.