§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will uprate the pensions paid to UK pensioners living in all Commonwealth countries; and if he will make a statement. [100877]
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Centre Target April to December 2002 Notes Notes DWP Corporate Public Enquiry Office To answer 65 per cent. of all calls offered to the PEO. 41 per cent. Average performance calculated April-December 2002. No data for November 2002 Jobcentre Plus Jobcentre Plus Chief Executive helpline 100 per cent. of calls received in 20 seconds 100 per cent. This is a single line service operated by one member of staff. The number of calls received and answered are recorded but the telephone system does not enable the monitoring of any callers receiving an engaged tone. Employer Direct 1: 80 per cent. of calls answered within 20 seconds 85 per cent. 2: Maximum of 5 per cent. of calls abandoned after 20 seconds 3 per cent. Jobseeker Direct 1: 95 per cent. calls answered 98.0 per cent. Current Jobseeker direct telephone technology is unable to monitor how quickly calls are answered 2: 1 job submission per call 1.12 3: 8 job entries per service point per week 9.1 One—Milton Keynes 1: 65 per cent. of calls answered within 25 seconds with no more than 10 per cent. abandoned 68 per cent. 2: 80 per cent. of call backs made within 48 hours. 66.66 per cent. Figure supplied is calculated average as unable to supply exact figures in time available. One—Taunton 1: 65 per cent. of calls answered within 25 seconds with no more than 10 per cent. abandoned 70.1 per cent. 2: 80 per cent. of call backs made within 48 hours. Not available
§ Mr. McCartneyState pension is uprated in some Commonwealth countries and certain other countries abroad where there is a legal requirement or a reciprocal social security agreement to do so.
The Commonwealth countries with which the UK has reciprocal agreements allowing state pension upratings to be paid are, Barbados, Cyprus, Jamaica, Malta and Mauritius. Pensions are not uprated in any other Commonwealth country.
The uprating of state pensions abroad is the subject of a Court of Appeal hearing set for 24 and 25 March 2003. This is an appeal against the High Court's finding that the Government is not in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by not annually uprating the state pension in countries where there is no agreement to do so.