Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Craig Whittaker and Thérèse Coffey

Monday 8th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

Yes.

[Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con) [V]]

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Peter Duffy, a British 94-year-old who has lived in Canada since 1980 and who also served this country as a world war two pilot. Peter’s British pals who live just 500 metres away over the border in the US get the full state pension, but Peter only gets £46.90 a week living in Canada. Can my right hon. Friend, on this day, Commonwealth Day, tell Peter— and me, because I want to hear the answer —when Her Majesty’s Government intend to respond to the Canadian Government’s request for a reciprocal social security agreement?

[Dr Coffey]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. If the hon. Member for Glasgow East (David Linden) had not tried to intervene on me, perhaps I could have given the fuller answer that I intend to give now.

It is my intention that the Department will respond to the Canadian embassy on this matter. My hon. Friend will know that UK state pensions are payable worldwide and there is often a reciprocal arrangement in place where that is a legal requirement. For the last 70 years, it has not been the policy to initiate new agreements. However, I understand the points that he and other Members have made in their representations and we will continue to consider the matter carefully.