asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce legislation to enable expatriate retirement pensioners to benefit from pension increases; and if he will make a statement.

Persons drawing British retirement pensions overseas already benefit from pension increases if they live in countries which have agreed under reciprocal arrangements to pay their pension increases here. Nearly one-third of all retirement pensioners abroad are covered by these arrangements, which we are endeavouring to extend to as many countries as possible.