Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when (a) she and (b) her officials last discussed reciprocal pensions agreements with their counterparts in (i) individual EU member states, (ii) Canada and (iii) Australia.

The Government has agreed reciprocal social security arrangements for those covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.

The Government has made clear that it intends to discuss social security coordination in the upcoming negotiations with the EU.

Discussions took place with Ireland in 2018 in the context of our commitment to maintain the rights associated with the Common Travel Area after the UK’s exit from the EU. This led to the signing of a reciprocal social security agreement on 1 February 2019, protecting the social security benefit and pension rights of UK and Irish nationals living and/or working in either state. The agreement will come into force on 1 January 2021.

There have been no recent discussions with Canada and Australia on reciprocal pension agreements.