§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many colonial and overseas pensioner schemes are still in existence; how many British residents are(a) current or (b) potential beneficiaries of such schemes; and what steps she is taking to align benefits with comparable domestic public sector schemes. [133293]
§ Mr. FoulkesThere are 104 colonial pension schemes still in existence. Some 26,700 pensioners currently receive benefits under the differing provisions of those 959W schemes, of whom 17,214 reside in the UK. There is no record of how many British residents are potential beneficiaries.
The colonial pension arrangements are unique, and cannot be compared with those of domestic public sector schemes. The Government therefore have no plans to bring them into line.