UP-RATING OF THE STATE RETIREMENT PENSION FOR BRITISH EXPATRIATE PENSIONERS

Motion Text

That this House welcomes the Third Report of the Social Security Select Committee into the Uprating of State Retirement Pensions Payable to People Resident Abroad (HC 143 of Session 1996-97); expresses its grave concern at the discrimination practised by successive British Governments against 450,000 British state pensioners living in certain countries abroad; believes that the denial of pension increases to persons who have paid national insurance contributions is indefensible particularly as it affects less than 4 per cent. of the total number of British pensioners at home and abroad and also because the National Insurance Fund is now showing a surplus exceeding 5.9 billion pounds; and calls on the Government to agree to the principal recommendation of the Select Committee by providing a day for a debate in Government time on the report.