State Pensions: UK Expatriates

Natascha Engel Excerpts

Thursday 20th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Natascha Engel)]

If the Minister would like to respond, he is welcome to do so.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions (Richard Harrington)]

I will have a go at responding to the hon. Gentleman’s question. I do not know the answer to it, but I will find out straight away and communicate it to him. I suspect that this is a matter that is decided by the civil service based on previous protocols about purdah and so on, but I do not feel experienced enough to give him the answer that he wants and deserves.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Minister has made it clear that he will communicate with the shadow Minister, but can we ensure that there is communication with all Members of the House if this closure happens? We hope that it will not, because it will impact all our constituents in a very big way.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

If the Minister would like to respond to that, it would be very helpful.

[Richard Harrington]

I have taken on board the hon. Lady’s point.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I thank all hon. Members for their points of order, and I thank the hon. Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham) for raising this point. It is important, and I am grateful to the Minister for having responded so positively to it. We will leave it there for now.