Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to end the freeze on state pension payments to pensioners residing in Canada.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

UK State Pensions are up-rated overseas where there is a legal requirement to do so. There is no such requirement or agreement with Canada. This longstanding policy has been supported by successive post-war governments for over 70 years and the Government has no plans to change the policy.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 26 October (HL10597), when they last had discussions with the government of Canada about uprating UK State Pensions paid to UK pensioners residents in that country; and what was agreed at that meeting.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government of Canada last raised this issue during a meeting on 17 April 2023. Following this meeting, the UK Government reiterated in writing that it is not intending to change the existing social security relationship with Canada under the arrangements made in 1995 and 1998.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, why UK state pensioners resident in Canada do not receive an annual pension increase; what assessment they have made of whether, in the light of the annual pension increases received by UK state pensioners in the USA and other counties, UK state pensioners resident in Canada should also receive such an increase; and what plans they have to provide such an increase to UK state pensioners resident in Canada.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the impact of the recent incident on UK pensions living in Canada where their state pensions were suspended.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

We understand that some customers in Canada did not receive life certificate forms sent to them by the Department. Our outbound postal supplier has confirmed that the life certificates were issued and dispatched from the UK.

In line with the process for all overseas state pension recipients, the Department suspended payment for those customers who did not return their form within the 16-week window. After being alerted to the failure to deliver within Canada, we reinstated all suspended payments and issued any arrears owed.

We have also extended the time period for Canadian customers to return their life certificate forms, having confirmed that certificates are now being delivered.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she is having with her Canadian counterpart on uprating British State Pensions paid to people living in Canada.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There are two separate social security arrangements in place between the UK and Canada, made in 1995 and 1998. The UK Government is not intending to change the social security relationship with Canada.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to meet Deb Schulte, member of the Canadian Parliament, to discuss frozen pensions.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government last received correspondence from the Canadian Government in November 2020.

The Department does not routinely place its correspondence with foreign Government officials in the Library. However, the Department responded to Canadian officials explaining the Government’s longstanding policy position.

Departmental Ministers have not met Canadian Ministers to discuss the issue of frozen pensions and there are no plans for such a meeting.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has recently received a request from the Canadian Government to discuss frozen pensions.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government last received correspondence from the Canadian Government in November 2020.

The Department does not routinely place its correspondence with foreign Government officials in the Library. However, the Department responded to Canadian officials explaining the Government’s longstanding policy position.

Departmental Ministers have not met Canadian Ministers to discuss the issue of frozen pensions and there are no plans for such a meeting.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to meet with representatives of the Canadian Government to discuss frozen pensions.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government last received correspondence from the Canadian Government in November 2020.

The Department does not routinely place its correspondence with foreign Government officials in the Library. However, the Department responded to Canadian officials explaining the Government’s longstanding policy position.

Departmental Ministers have not met Canadian Ministers to discuss the issue of frozen pensions and there are no plans for such a meeting.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she or Ministers in her Department have met with representatives of the Canadian Government to discuss frozen pensions.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government last received correspondence from the Canadian Government in November 2020.

The Department does not routinely place its correspondence with foreign Government officials in the Library. However, the Department responded to Canadian officials explaining the Government’s longstanding policy position.

Departmental Ministers have not met Canadian Ministers to discuss the issue of frozen pensions and there are no plans for such a meeting.