§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what notice Australia gave of its decision to terminate the social security agreement between Australia and the UK; and what the ramifications will be for British pensioners covered by the existing agreement. [97399]
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Table 1: Numbers of IVB/IB short-term higher and long-term rate recipients, and average weekly amounts in payment at April 1998 prices Recipients all ages Average weekly amount (£) Recipients under pension age Average weekly amount (£) 31 March 1984 797,000 88.70 729,800 88.75 30 March 1985 848,948 88.95 764,648 89.20 5 April 1986 899,200 90.35 798,200 90.75 4 April 1987 967,900 88.75 841,600 89.05 2 April 1988 1,047,500 87.15 897,400 87.65 1 April 1989 1,126,000 85.90 951,600 86.65 31 March 1990 1,208,900 91.65 1,003,200 86.10
§ Mr. RookerThe Australian Government announced in July that they intended to terminate the Social Security agreement with the UK. We have not received formal notice of termination. The agreement would terminate 12 months after the UK received formal notification.
The agreement helps UK pensioners who have lived in Australia for less than 10 years to meet the residence test for Australia's Age Pension. It can also help former residents of Australia now living in the UK to qualify for UK State Pension. People who had already become entitled to benefit through the agreement when it terminated would remain covered by its terms, so there would be no effect on them.