Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 18 October 2023.

State Pensions: Canada Free Trade Agreement

Question: My Lords, I hear what the Minister says, but the APPG on frozen pensions said in its report in 2020 that 80% of people retiring to Commonwealth countries—Canada, New Zealand and Australia, together with various Caribbean countries—were unaware that their UK pensions would be frozen. Can the Minister tell us what steps the Government have taken since then to publicise their likely predicament? I inform this House that the Government’s website contains no more than a passing reference to this and, like all passing references, it is in brackets. Can we at least remove the brackets and put it in bold type?

Answer: My Lords, whether there are brackets or not, obviously I will need to go back and check myself what the website says. As I say, people move abroad for many reasons and, before they do so, I am certain that they look at all the pros and cons. It is also their responsibility to take advice and make an informed decision before they move. However, I hope it gives some reassurance that there is information—I hope it is not limited—on GOV.UK as to what the effect of going abroad will be on entitlement to UK state pensions. That is, as I say, just one factor that people will be bearing in mind when making that decision, difficult or otherwise, to move from the UK.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 833 c202
Session: 2022-23
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: British nationals abroad Canada State retirement pensions Trade agreements Uprating
Link: View this Oral question on hansard.parliament.uk