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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria are used to determine the countries in which United Kingdom state pensions are uprated in line with inflation; and what proposals he has to amend those criteria. [97897] Mr. Rooker: UK State Pensions have been payable in certain countries outside the UK since 1929--initially in HM Dominions and then, between 1948-1955, in a small number of European countries. In 1955 Retirement Pensions and widows benefits became payable worldwide. However, upratings were not normally payable. Over time, the UK has concluded reciprocal social security agreements with some 30 countries. Although most provide for payment of upratings, that is not the primary purpose of such agreements. They are intended mainly to provide a measure of co-ordination between social security schemes for people moving between the UK and the other country during their working lives. A major consideration in deciding whether to enter into an agreement is the extent to which the advantages to be gained outweigh the cost of negotiating and administering the agreement. Most of the UK's reciprocal social security agreements are over 25 years old. The last to come into force which provides for upratings was in 1992 (with Barbados) and fulfilled a commitment given in the 1970s. We have no plans to change the current arrangements for uprating UK pensions abroad.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

97897; 337 c558W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

British overseas territories Social security State retirement pensions Uprating