Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment the potential financial impact of the freeze on the state pensions for British people living abroad on people receiving a UK pension in (a) Canada, (b) Australia and (c) India.

DWP does not make such an assessment. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions. Entitlement is based on an individual’s national insurance record. The policy on up-rating UK State Pensions overseas is long-standing and has been supported by successive post-war Governments for over 70 years. We continue to up-rate UK State Pensions abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so – for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for up-rating. There are no plans to change this policy.