Written question asked by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Monday, 20 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 October 2025 (named day). It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

St Helena: State Retirement Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 20 October 2025 to Questions (a) 81257 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty and (b) 81258 on St Helena: British Nationals Abroad, what steps she is taking to implement (i) the commitment that entitled pensioners residing in St Helena receive unfrozen benefits from April and (ii) other provisions in the British Indian Ocean Territory Partnership Agreement, signed in October 2024.

Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is working together with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to address the complex considerations concerning the unfreezing of pensions for St Helena. I have recently met ministerial colleagues to discuss this issue again, and look forward to meeting the new Chief Minister soon to update them. We will update on progress in the usual way in due course.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 83281
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Chagos Islands: Sovereignty
Monday, 20 October 2025
Written questions
House of Commons; St Helena: State Retirement Pensions
Monday, 20 October 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: British nationals abroad Mauritius Sovereignty State retirement pensions St Helena Chagos Islands
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk