APPG Minutes – 1st November 2017

November 20, 2017 Frozen British Pensions 9 Comments

Frozen Pensions APPG 2017

The APPG for Frozen British Pensions met on 1st November 2017 at 10am in Portcullis House. The agenda included updates on Parliamentary activity, the British Overseas Territories, and members of the ICBP who attended.

The meeting was opened by Sir Roger Gale MP, and we were grateful to be joined by many other supporters.

Attendees

  • Sir Roger Gale MP (Chair of the APPG)
  • Sheila Telford (Chair, ICBP, from Canada)
  • Brian Owles (Chair, BPiA, from Australia)
  • Ian Andexer (Chair, CABP, from Canada)
  • John Duffy (Chair, BCPA, from Antigua)
  • Jim Tilley (Director ICBP, from Australia)
  • Colin Rainsbury (Director, ICBP, from Canada)
  • Sukey Cameron MBE, Representative Falkland Islands Government
  • Sir Peter Bottomley MP
  • Lord German
  • Mhairi Black MP
  • Mohammed Yasin MP
  • Emily Burditt (Secretariat)
  • Alice Jaffe (PHA Media)
  • Beth Andlaw (PHA Media)

 

Discussion

  1. Welcome by the Chair – Roger Gale MP

 

Roger Gale MP welcomed the attendees and gave special thanks to those supporters from within parliament.

  1. Discussion on Brexit Negotiations / State Pensions

The indication is that ex-pat EU pensioners will not suffer because of Brexit – however, this may only apply to those pensioners already living abroad at the time of Brexit and no decision has yet been formally reached, despite the Government saying that they would like to continue to uprate EU pensions. If this is the case, it will be hard to justify why pensions are frozen in other countries, including the Commonwealth.

An issue that many MPs have raised with the ICBP delegation is that of trade deals – and the APPG will support that.

The APPG will also support the Labour Party’s attempt to pray against the SI in March/April next year which freezes pensions. This is only a temporary measure as it would have to be done each year, but would send a strong signal to Government and draw attention to the issue. There is a real belief that it could be achievable.

 

  1. Campaign Update from Leading Frozen Pension Campaigners

 

Each member of the ICBP delegation introduced themselves and their role in the campaign so far. The ICBP also made it clear that their aim is to campaign for pension parity for all.

 

The group reported on their visit to the UK so far. They were impressed with a number of new MPs who were all keen to get behind the cause, and had been shocked to find out the issue. It is clear that there is support from the SNP, Labour and Green Party. The Lib Dems are being non-committal and the DUP have historically been supportive. There is still resistance amongst many Conservatives on cost grounds.

 

The group discusses the importance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and agreed to ask parliamentarians in frozen countries to put pensions on the

agenda. Sir Roger Gale said he would write to representatives in Canada and Australia.

 

Jim Tilley noted that he was soon to have a meeting with Malcolm Turnbull and will raise the issue of CHOGM but also trade agreements.

 

The group also discussed the merits of having constituents to write to their local MP – on behalf of family members for example who may be affected. The MP meetings from this visit have shown us how tight time is for MPs and they really can only focus on issues raised by their constituents. It is therefore essential that expat pensioners use this connection.

 

Sir Peter stressed that there must focus on an overlapping approach – calling for parity whilst also promoting the role and contributions of pensioners make in each country.

 

  1. Update on Parliamentary Activity

 

Lord German noted that as well as praying against the SI, he will also soon have a question on the issue in the House of Lords, although the specific date is not yet known.

It was concluded that by threatening to annul the SI the Government is likely to want to negotiate a deal prior to March / April.

 

  1. Update on the Position of the British Oversea Territories 

 

Sukey Cameron noted what an important issues this is for the Overseas Territories and can prevent people from being able to return home. She reported that she now had a legal opinion specifically on the British Overseas Territories which was shared.

She also noted that she had worked with Alex Cunningham’s office to get some Parliamentary Questions tabled.

 

Meeting closed.

#Frozen British Pensions#Justice#Mhairi Black#Pensions#Sir Peter Bottomley#Sir Roger Gale

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Comments

  1. Robin Davidson
    November 20, 2017 - 5:05 pm

    Slowly, very slowly….
    Thanks to all the MPs and the various international reps for all your ongoing work. I’m sure we all push what buttons we can!

  2. Gary Pinner
    November 24, 2017 - 4:04 pm

    I like to thank everybody for the efforts to overturn this unfair practice. People who contributed all their working life should not be penalised for making a choice where they want to retire to in later life.
    Conservatives may object to it on the grounds of cost. But what about child benefit money that is claimed by EU workers in the UK for their children who are living back in their home country. This money could be stopped and the money saved could go to un-freezing pensions and give to people who worked all their life what they are rightfully due.

  3. Jane Davies
    November 26, 2017 - 5:05 pm

    The constant excuse not to end this discrimination used is cost. Sorry that is not a valid reason when there is about 30 billion surplus in the NI fund and these pensioners have paid for their pension under the same terms as everyone else, in many cases for nearly fifty years. The Commonwealth Charter clearly states that the Commonwealth is “implacably opposed to any form of discrimination” and yet this issue has been the elephant in the room for decades and the government over those decades have been allowed to get away with it. Thank you to all of the supporters for your commitment to ending this outrageous injustice, let us hope next year sees pension parity for all of the victims of this deliberate policy, imposed on these seniors by own government, so they can live out their final years on the same terms as those seniors who have an indexed pension. If an indexed state pension is the right of 96% the 4% have the same right too.

  4. David Currie
    November 26, 2017 - 6:56 pm

    Just a thought, would there be any value in using https://www.gotomeeting.com/en-ca
    for those listed below, instead of long distance overseas trips and huge savings on cost as well.
    Sheila Telford (Chair, ICBP, from Canada)
    Brian Owles (Chair, BPiA, from Australia)
    Ian Andexer (Chair, CABP, from Canada)
    John Duffy (Chair, BCPA, from Antigua)
    Jim Tilley (Director ICBP, from Australia)
    Colin Rainsbury (Director, ICBP, from Canada)
    Sukey Cameron MBE, Representative Falkland Islands Government

  5. Frank Sanders
    December 20, 2017 - 12:49 am

    How much more delay should proponents of the Frozen pensions debacle have to endure? before justice is implemented.
    Every excuse is now exhausted it is time to honour your pledge and undo an injustice
    Past leaders have stepped forward in the hour of need that time has arrived !!!
    A large number of individuals have made monetary gains in belonging to the EU not so with the Frozen Pensions all that is required is the adjusted amount which is rightfully theirs.

  6. Nigel Nelson
    March 27, 2018 - 4:01 am

    David Currie: When BPIA/CABP/ICBP Directors go to London for the APPG meeting, they have around 40 other meetings scheduled over the course of a week to 10 days. Most of these meetings are held one-on-one with MPs around small tables in an open plan area. Other meetings are scheduled with the U.K. press, as well as meetings at Australia House/Canada House. It is a very challenging and exhausting week to 10 days, but it is a huge opportunity to get the message across.

  7. James Tilley
    April 3, 2018 - 1:20 pm

    The ICBP is hopeful that after my meeting with Australia’s Malcolm Turnbull [https://www.thesenior.com.au/financial/call-to-end-frozen-pension-policy] and having written in the past few days to several Commonwealth Heads of Government, including the NZ PM and the PMs from Bangladesh, Canada and South Africa, reminding them all of the unfairness and blatant discrimination perpetrated by the UK Government on many of their citizens, the frozen pension issue will possibly be discussed at CHOGM when Theresa May brings to the meeting her plan to Revitalize the Commonwealth and “promote fairness in governance across the Commonwealth”. For she will not be able to demonstrate that the UK practices fairness in governance of the UK’s pension scheme.

  8. Ian Walsh
    April 29, 2018 - 6:35 am

    I was born, of British parents, in London, on 9 March 1933. I served in RAF and Colonial Service. I worked and studied part-time, to qualify as an architect ARIBA. My British wife and I emigrated to South Africa (where she had family), on 2 February 1970. We lived here for
    47 years. She died on 14
    October 2017.
    re
    for 48 years

  9. Ian Walsh
    April 29, 2018 - 6:56 am

    PS: 1. My wife also worked in London, during that time, paid NI, and, of couse, also had frozen pension.
    2. Why was the South African rep. absent from that meeting?

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