To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the countries (a) with which there are reciprocal social security agreements; (b) in which British emigrant pensioners receive regular uprating of pensions in line with the United Kingdom; and if he is considering arranging an agreement to include Canada in the latter category.

The United Kingdom has reciprocal social security agreements with the following countries. British emigrant pensioners receive regular uprating of pensions in line with those in the United Kingdom in all these countries except for those marked with an asterisk.

Australia^*

Austria

Belgium

Bermuda

Canada^*

Cyprus

Denmark

Finland

France

Federal Republic of Germany

Gibraltar

Greece

Iceland

Republic of Ireland

Isle of Man

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Jersey and Guernsey

Luxembourg

Malta

Mauritius

Netherlands

New Zealand^*

Norway^*

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United States of America

Yugoslavia

United Kingdom pension upratings are also paid to pensioners living in Sark by virtue of a provision of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations 1973.Canadian and United Kingdom officials have discussed the possibility of revising the agreement between the two countries so that pension increases would be payable. However, to pay full United Kingdom pensions to all British pensioners in Canada would cost an additional £41 million a year. In view of the substantial costs involved I cannot say when we shall be able to make further progress towards a revised agreement.