Commonwealth Countries: Reciprocal Pension Agreements

Lord Fowler Excerpts

Monday 1st March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Randall of Uxbridge [V]]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received any requests from Commonwealth countries to discuss reciprocal pension agreements in the last two years; and if so, which countries have made such requests.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

Are you there, Lord Randall?

[Lord Ashton of Hyde (Con)]

If you can hear me, Lord Randall, you are on.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

I will call the noble Lord, Lord Randall, one more time. He is not there, so I call the noble Baroness, Lady Altmann, to ask her question.

[Baroness Altmann (Con)]

My Lords, I understand that the Government are in talks with Canada on possible reciprocal arrangements for state pensions uprating. Can my noble friend tell the House whether they are in discussion with any other countries on this issue, including those in the EEA, EFTA and the EU?

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Stedman-Scott (Con)]

As I understand it, the previous agreement with Australia, which did not include uprating, was terminated by Australia in 2001 due to the UK’s refusal to change its policy on pensions uprating abroad.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

My Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked. This brings Question Time to an end.