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British expats are being implored to add their signatures to a petition calling for an end to the Government’s controversial frozen pensions policy

The appeal, which was lodged by campaign group the International Consortium of British Pensioners on the Government’s e-petitions website last year, will become eligible for discussion in the House of Commons if it reaches at least 100,000 signatures by September 8.

At the moment however, there are less than 15,000 signatures posted despite the fact that the policy affects over a half a million pensioners worldwide.

Under current regulations, expats in Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURUSD - news) , the US and a number of other countries receive the same annual cost-of-living increases as their UK counterparts, but those living in other countries (including most of the Commonwealth states) have their pensions frozen as soon as they start receiving them abroad.

Tony Bockman, chairman of the ICBP, said: “It's time to ask all overseas recipients of the British state pension to understand that if we are ever going to get the Government to pay attention to the frozen pensions issue, then everyone needs to get involved.

“That's not just the current 550,000 plus pensioners overseas whose pensions are already frozen, but all of you who are not yet of pensionable age but might qualify for a state pension later on.

“I know there is no guarantee that our case will be debated in the House of Commons when we reach 100,000 signatures, but there is every guarantee that it certainly will not be debated if we don't participate. So get involved and get all of your friends and relatives in the UK involved too.”

Expats who wish to sign the petition should visit http://bit.ly/BritPensions , and follow the instructions.

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Appeal to expats to sign frozen pensions petition