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Retirement Pensions (Reciprocity)

Volume 487: debated on Monday 7 May 1951

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18.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will consider making arrangements whereby when a person goes to live abroad, and consequently is unable to obtain payment of his retirement pension, the pension can be paid into the person's bank or Post Office account in Britain, so that if he returns to this country he can draw on it, or if he dies without utilising it this money will form part of his estate.

Retirement pensions awarded in this country are payable in any part of His Majesty's Dominions. As regards other countries, I think this is a matter which is best dealt with on the basis of reciprocal agreements, a number of which are being negotiated at the present time.

In view of the fact that, as the right hon. Lady says, reciprocal arrangements have been made with some Dominion and foreign Governments to allow payment of these pensions abroad, would she not agree that it is only just that some arrangement should be made for people living in countries not so covered, in order that they can regain the contributions made under the scheme?

The hon. Lady has forgotten one important point, that without reciprocal arrangements we have no guarantee, unless we have another Government observing the matter for us, that the recipient is observing our regulations.