§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to introduce primary legislation to protect the pension rights of British citizens who have worked in Australia. [69936]
§ Mr. McCartneyWe will legislate at the earliest suitable opportunity to ensure that, for British citizens who went to live in Australia before the end of the reciprocal Social Security Agreement on 28 February 2001, any periods of residence in Australia from the start of the Agreement on 29 January 1958 up to and including 5 April 2001 will be used in the calculation of basic state pension if they return to live permanently in the United Kingdom.
Until we can introduce primary legislation, we will continue to make extra statutory payments to such people who return to the UK on a permanent basis, if they have less than the standard rate of basic pension.